The Ballon d'Or is more than just an individual trophy; it is a monument to a player's impact on the sport over the course of a season. It is a prize that crowns the best footballer in the world, and the final list of nominees represents a collection of truly remarkable talents who have pushed the boundaries of what is possible on the pitch. As we approach the final ceremony, set for September 22, 2025
Here, we break down the cases for each of the leading contenders across all categories and predict who will ultimately take home football's most coveted individual prizes.
The Ballon d'Or (Best Player): The Frontrunners
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
The case for Kylian Mbappé is built on a foundation of prolific goalscoring and a stunning debut season in Spain. In his first year with Real Madrid, he cemented his status as one of the most lethal finishers in the world, topping the La Liga scoring charts with a remarkable 31 goals.
Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah’s case is arguably the most complete of all the nominees. The Egyptian star had a sensational season, leading Liverpool to the Premier League title
Other Strong Contenders
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: The young Georgian was a central figure in PSG's dominant 5-0 victory in the UEFA Champions League final, where he scored a crucial goal.
His importance to the team is reflected in his high annual salary of €16.36 million. Raphinha: Was named the "Best Player" of the La Liga season, giving him a strong individual claim for the award.
Mateo Retegui: The league's top goalscorer in Serie A with 25 goals, instrumental in Napoli’s unexpected title win.
Harry Kane: Scored 26 goals in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich.
The Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper): The Top-Tier Shot-Stoppers
The best goalkeeper award often goes to a player who was a crucial part of a title-winning side, and this year's nominees reflect that trend.
Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG): As the goalkeeper for the Champions League winners, he has a strong claim to the award.
David Raya (Arsenal): Won the Premier League Golden Glove award after keeping a record number of clean sheets, a key part of Arsenal's strong season.
Other Nominees: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest) and Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid) also received nominations.
The Kopa Trophy (Best Young Player): The Stars of Tomorrow
This award celebrates the most impressive young talent under the age of 21, and several players had breakout seasons that put them in contention.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): Was the top assist provider in La Liga with 13 assists, demonstrating his incredible creative talent at a young age.
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich): A dominant debut season in the Bundesliga, where he was the top assister with 15 assists and scored 12 goals.
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool): A key player in Liverpool's title-winning campaign, registering 12 assists and 10 goals in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen.
Other Nominees: Désiré Doué (PSG) and João Neves (PSG) are also on the list, highlighting the wealth of young talent at the French club.
The Best Coach Award: The Masterminds
This award honors the manager who had the most impactful season, combining tactical success with trophy wins.
Luis Enrique (PSG): The clear favorite, as he led PSG to their first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a a dominant 5-0 win over Inter Milan.
This is a monumental achievement that will be hard to overlook. Arne Slot (Liverpool): Won the Premier League in his first season in charge, a significant achievement that puts him in strong contention.
Other Nominees: Antonio Conte (Napoli), who won the Serie A title, and Enzo Maresca (Chelsea), who led the team to a strong finish, are also on the list of nominees.
The Final Verdict and Prize
The Ballon d'Or ceremony, scheduled for September 22, 2025
Ultimately, the winner will likely be the one who can combine individual brilliance with the biggest club achievements. While this year's contest is tighter than ever, the exceptional season of Mohamed Salah—winning the league and both top individual offensive awards—gives him the edge.