Ballon d’Or 2025: The Tightest Race in Years – With a Twist Coming in the Club World Cup

As we approach the final stretch of the 2024–2025 football season, the race for the Ballon d’Or is heating up. Unlike past years dominated by Messi or Ronaldo, this year’s competition is wide open — with new faces, rising stars, and a major tournament twist just around the corner.

🥇 Leading Contenders for Ballon d’Or 2025

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)

The frontrunner by most metrics. Dembélé played a key role in PSG’s historic treble — winning Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League.

33 goals and 6 Champions League assists this season
Dominated high-stakes matches, including a brace in the UCL final
Already being hailed as the “most complete winger in the world”

Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)

At just 17, Yamal’s maturity and influence are astonishing.

Scored a decisive brace against France in the Nations League semifinal
Played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s domestic resurgence
Likely to become the youngest-ever Ballon d’Or winner if he takes it

Vitinha (PSG & Portugal)

The unsung hero of PSG’s treble-winning campaign.

Controlled midfield with elegance and intensity — 4 goals, 10 assists, 91% pass accuracy
Key link between defense and attack, often outshining more hyped teammates
Instrumental in Portugal’s Nations League campaign

⚠️ If Portugal wins the Euros or performs well at the Club World Cup, Vitinha could leapfrog more attack-minded candidates.

Nuno Mendes (PSG & Portugal)

One of the few defenders seriously considered this year.

Played every minute of PSG’s UCL and domestic finals
Strong Nations League form
If Portugal wins silverware this summer, Mendes may pull a “Cannavaro 2006”-style upset

🏆 The Club World Cup 2025: A New Ballon d’Or Wildcard?

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025—set for June 15–July 13 in the USA—could reshape the Ballon d’Or voting landscape.

Why It Matters:

The Ballon d’Or voting deadline falls after the Club World Cup ends.
This 32-team tournament (now with a World Cup-style format) gives Champions League winners and continental giants one last chance to impress.
For PSG players (Dembélé, Vitinha, Mendes) and Barcelona (Yamal), a Club World Cup victory would add global silverware to their résumés.
Standout performances on U.S. soil, in front of global audiences, could sway late votes.

🗣️ “If someone dominates that tournament — especially in the final — they’ll almost certainly take the Ballon d’Or,” noted one UEFA analyst.

🧠 Final Thoughts: A New Era?

The 2025 race marks a shift: youth vs. consistency, midfield brains vs. flashy forwards.
Club loyalty and Champions League titles are still king, but the Club World Cup could shake up the final rankings.
Vitinha and Yamal are both riding surges in form, while Dembélé’s trophies and leadership are tough to ignore.