With the 2024-25 men`s football season now concluded, it`s time for a final assessment of the leading contenders for the prestigious Ballon d`Or award.
Little has changed since our previous evaluation of soccer`s top individual talents, in the wake of Paris Saint-Germain`s Champions League victory. If our last top six caused frustration, consider yourself warned. However, one significant event has occurred: Chelsea secured the Club World Cup title for the next four years by defeating PSG at MetLife Stadium. Additionally, some international competitions, like Portugal`s Nations League win, provide new factors for consideration.
Whether the Club World Cup will heavily influence Ballon d`Or voters remains uncertain. While an exceptional performance by Ousmane Dembele in PSG`s victory might have elevated his standing, it`s worth noting that several of Europe`s top teams from last season—including Barcelona, Liverpool, and Arsenal—did not participate in this tournament.
From this perspective, FIFA`s Club World Cup is considered less prestigious than the Champions League, yet it holds some importance. Its standout players deserve, and will receive, a slight boost in these rankings. Beyond that, while PSG didn`t win in the US, their strong displays further solidify the idea that Luis Enrique`s team is consistently excellent. Public feedback regarding the exclusion of some of their top players was noted; though these rankings are compiled by a single individual, external input is considered, and they are not immune to debate.
Now, let`s delve into the rankings, including current betting odds:
- 1. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (+2500)
- 2. Raphinha, Barcelona (+2500)
- 3. Ousmane Dembele, PSG (-500)
- 4. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG (+4000)
- 5. Pedri, Barcelona (+5000)
- 6. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona (+400)
- 7. Achraf Hakimi, PSG (+2800)
- 8. Vitinha, PSG (+1000)
- 9. Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG (+5000)
- 10. Cole Palmer, Chelsea (+2000)
1. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (+2500)
Mohamed Salah`s position remains undisputed. His exceptional season, featuring 34 goals and 23 assists – statistics typically associated with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at their peak – led an unfavored Liverpool side to a dominant Premier League title. The timing of his peak performance, occurring before spring, does not diminish his overall achievements.
2. Raphinha, Barcelona (+2500)
Another player with surprisingly long odds given his accomplishments in 2024-25, Raphinha transitioned from a fringe Barcelona player to deliver a historic individual season in the Champions League, coupled with sustained excellence that helped secure La Liga glory.
3. Ousmane Dembele, PSG (-500)
Could Ousmane Dembele have claimed the top spot based on his Club World Cup performance? It would have required something truly extraordinary, as the competition has yet to establish itself at football`s pinnacle. However, one could envision outstanding displays against PSG`s tough opponents potentially swaying the outcome.
Ultimately, injuries limited Dembele`s opportunities, with the 28-year-old playing only three games before the final defeat. Brilliant cameos against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, the latter extended, served as a reminder of his class. However, PSG`s overall performances also highlighted what was evident during their Champions League run: while Dembele might be the best player in the best team, what makes Les Parisiens special is their collective strength, not any single individual.
4. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG (+4000)
Deep down, this ranking might be slightly too high for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, despite winning two of Europe`s top five league titles and a Champions League. His raw output wasn`t quite on par with the forwards ranked above and below him, but personal preference prevails. Throughout this season, no one was as exhilarating, creative, and remarkably exciting as `Kvaradona`.
5. Pedri, Barcelona (+5000)
For those who missed last season, Pedri continued to be the brilliant ball progressor everyone knows. However, this updated version of the Spanish midfielder added formidable ball-winning capabilities, solidifying his status as arguably the most complete midfielder in the sport today.
6. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona (+400)
The most controversial ranking last month was likely placing Lamine Yamal outside the top five, which perfectly illustrates the two prevailing schools of thought for the Ballon d`Or. For some, the winner should be the player who dominated the biggest games, delivering season-defining moments. In that regard, Yamal, the star of the Champions League semifinals even in defeat, had an exceptional season comparable to anyone not named Dembele.
While that assessment of the Ballon d`Or is valid, this column generally leans towards an aggregate view. In that context, Yamal hasn`t quite reached the levels of Salah, Raphinha, and Dembele yet. However, it seems to be a matter of `when,` not `if,` for him.
7. Achraf Hakimi, PSG (+2800)
If the player below him in these rankings is PSG`s operational engine, Achraf Hakimi is the tireless component covering vast distances without showing wear. Hakimi was arguably his team`s best performer at the Club World Cup, notably exceptional in victories over Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, even without scoring.
8. Vitinha, PSG (+1000)
Another standout at the Club World Cup, Vitinha`s leap from 11th to eighth was primarily fueled by his superb display against Spain in the Nations League final. To appear as the best midfielder on the pitch against talents like Pedri and Martin Zubimendi is remarkable, but such excellence has become typical for the Portugal international.
9. Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG (+5000)
Gianluigi Donnarumma`s initial exclusion drew significant criticism. He likely deserved a top 10 spot over players like Harry Kane and perhaps even Virgil van Dijk. His initial absence can be explained: generally, elite goalkeepers often have less to do, making it difficult to objectively compare their season to that of a keeper for a lower-half team.
However, it cannot be denied that Donnarumma was exceptional in some of PSG`s most crucial matches, delivering when it mattered most. This continued through much of the Club World Cup, where five saves helped the European champions overcome Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals.
10. Cole Palmer, Chelsea (+2000)
First, a brief mention of the trio who dropped out. While Virgil van Dijk and Harry Kane were simply overtaken by others, Kylian Mbappe`s case is particularly interesting. He scored an impressive 44 goals in his first year at Real Madrid, but the Club World Cup did not dispel the notion that his new team isn`t significantly better off with him. A stomach flu hampered his performance, and his display against PSG raised some unflattering questions.
This cannot be said about Cole Palmer, who was outstanding in Chelsea`s 3-0 triumph at MetLife Stadium. Had the England international maintained his domestic form throughout the latter half of the season, he would have been on this list even before the Club World Cup. However, that competition served as a strong reminder of his burgeoning talent.
