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, the debate is hotter than ever. The 2024-2025 season was defined by thrilling title races and stunning individual performances, and the top contenders for this year's award reflect that drama.
Here, featsport break down the cases for each of the leading contenders and predict who will ultimately take home football's most coveted individual prize.
The Leading Contenders: 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 with a stunning record of 29 goals and 18 assists . His brilliance was recognized by his peers, who voted him the PFA Players' Player of the Year . The PFA award is a testament to the respect and admiration he commands from his fellow professionals, and his ability to combine a massive goal tally with a huge number of assists makes his case for the Ballon d'Or extremely strong.
The Dark Horses: Champions and Their Stars
While individual brilliance is crucial, the Ballon d'Or often rewards players who won the biggest team trophies. This year's competition is no exception, and the stars of Europe’s top-performing clubs deserve a seat at the table.
The Paris Saint-Germain Contingent
The final of the UEFA Champions League was a masterclass in domination, with Paris Saint-Germain thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first-ever European title . It is impossible to ignore the key players from that historic victory.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: The young Georgian was a central figure in PSG's Champions League triumph, and his status as a key asset is reflected in his high salary of €16.36 million.
He capped off his season by scoring a crucial goal in the final. Achraf Hakimi: The Moroccan right-back had a season to remember and scored the opening goal in the Champions League final, a critical contribution in the biggest game of the season.
The Barcelona Champion
Although Mbappé took the top scorer honors in La Liga, it was Barcelona who won the title, a major factor in the Ballon d'Or voting.
The Napoli Sensation
Napoli’s Serie A title win was a football fairytale, as they defied expectations to be crowned champions of Italy.
The Final Verdict
The 2024-2025 Ballon d'Or race is a fascinating contest between individual dominance and collective glory. While Mbappé's goalscoring numbers and Salah's combination of goals and assists are truly world-class, the success of the clubs they play for will be a deciding factor.
Ultimately, the winner of this year's Ballon d'Or will likely be determined by the voters' prioritization of club achievements over individual statistics. With Liverpool winning the Premier League title and Mbappé not winning La Liga with Real Madrid, it’s highly probable that Mohamed Salah will take home the Ballon d'Or. His incredible season, capped off by the PFA Player of the Year award, gives him the edge over the competition.