As the European season winds down, the picture of who could win the next Ballon d’Or becomes clearer. Here are five likely frontrunners for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
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With Rodri missing almost the entirety of the 2024/25 campaign, it is almost certain there will be a new winner of the Golden Ball. The Spanish midfielder’s performances in the Premier League and the UEFA European Championship were key to him winning the award last year. But now, it appears destined to return to an attacker—and one of the long-time frontrunners has been Raphinha.
After two underwhelming seasons at Barcelona, the Porto Alegre native has burst into life this campaign, scoring 34 goals and providing 25 assists in all competitions.
His fellow Barca attacker Lamine Yamal is also considered to be in the running for his contributions to the Blaugrana. While he may not have the same numbers—16 goals and 24 assists—his ability to consistently beat defenders and create chances has been immense.
However, the fact that both were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Inter Milan could hinder their chances. A forward who may have a better shot is Inter skipper Lautaro Martinez.
The Argentine has scored 22 goals and registered seven assists for the Italian giants and is in contention to add yet another major title to Inter’s trophy cabinet in the form of the Champions League. However, he will likely need to lift Europe’s premier competition to finally claim the accolade he has long been in contention for.
If Paris Saint-Germain are crowned champions of Europe, though, the Ballon d’Or recipient may well be Ousmane Dembele. In a career often marred by injuries, the Frenchman has reached new heights this season with Les Parisiens, having scored 33 goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions. He is on the verge of completing a treble with the Parisian giants.
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Mohamed Salah also remains a frontrunner, despite Liverpool’s early Champions League exit. His form in the Premier League has been exceptional, netting 28 goals and supplying 18 assists in the league alone. He has led the Reds to yet another domestic title, but it remains to be seen whether he can become only the second African player in history to claim the Ballon d’Or.
