Ballon d'Or 2025: Top seven favourites as of March

Rodri took home the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.

As the most prestigious individual award in global football, Ballon d’Or dominates the annual conversation each season. Handed out by France Football in the fall for the previous season, the Ballon d’Or is given to the best football player from around the globe across that campaign. Unfortunately for Rodri, he will be unable to defend his crown in 2025, with the Manchester City midfielder having suffered a season-ending knee injury in September.

The door is open for a whole host of players to succeed the Spain star, and the race for Ballon d’Or is heating up. The 2024-25 season doesn’t have the same international tournaments as its two predecessors. So the destination of the Ballon d’Or will be decided solely by club performances.

That opens it up to all sorts of individuals who might not share the same success with their countries as others. Here we will take a look at seven players who are the front runners in this Ballon d’Or race in the month of March:

7. Mohamed Salah

A few weeks back Mohamed Salah was the front-runner in the Ballon d’Or race. Many fans thought he would win it quite easily this time as Liverpool were dominating in the Premier League as well as in Europe. But then the Reds got eliminated from the Champions League.

They lost to PSG in penalties. After a few days, they lost to Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final by 2-1. Liverpool’s dream of treble was destroyed and Salah’s poor performance caused even more damage to his position in the Ballon d’Or race.

He won’t have any big international or club opportunities during the summer. This means that Salah will have to lean on his club’s accomplishments and hope nobody else plays a hero on the international and club level. In 29 matches he has scored 27 goals and provided 17 assists in the Premier League.

6. Pedri

His goal and assist numbers don’t jump off the page, but anyone who has watched Barcelona this season will know about the levels that Pedri has been displaying for Hansi Flick’s side. In the last few seasons, he was mostly injured for some time and missed matches. But this season he has been fit and is enjoying his football a lot.

For him to improve his ranking in the race he will have to continue translating his LaLiga performances into the Champions League. The upcoming matches will define his position in the Ballon d’Or race.

5. Ousmane Dembele

Dembele has been totally awakened by Luis Enrique’s tactical evolution, allowing him a free front-line role to regularly interchange with the equally amazing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. This resulted in him scoring the most goals in Europe in the first three months. If PSG had gone out of Europe in the Round of 16, it would have completely destroyed Dembele’s chances of winning this award, as a strong campaign in Ligue 1 is not enough to win this award.

If he somehow is able to win the prestigious Champions League with PSG then surely his case will be the strongest among all the players. In 24 Ligue 1 games, he has scored 20 goals and provided five assists. In 10 Champions League games, he has scored seven goals and provided one assist.

4. Harry Kane

A trophy-hungry Harry Kane will be motivated by Silverware this season after his disappointments with both Bundesliga employers, Bayern Munich and his country, England, over the last 12 months. Last time he was very close to winning the Bundesliga with the Bavarian giants and the European Championship with England.

However this year things are looking good as he still has a chance to win several trophies this season. He is the ideal No. 9 for any coach as he is a reliable player in the frontline who can make a difference on the field. In 24 games in the Bundesliga, he has scored 21 goals and has provided six assists. In 11 Champions League games, he has scored 10 goals and has provided two assists.

3. Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal is the chosen one the world of football has been desperately yearning for since Lionel Messi’s departure from Europe. With maturity beyond his years, the 17-year-old La Masia graduate is impressing everyone with his performance on the field. Barcelona’s right flank has been totally ignited by his presence.

He has completed the most dribbles in Europe’s top five leagues. Yamal is clearly a fearless individual who embodies the phrase “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.” He has broken several records already and surely he is capable of winning this one as well.

2. Kylian Mbappe

In the shift from Paris to Madrid, Mbappe’s 2024-25 season has been mixed with highs and lows. He started the season very poorly and was heavily criticised by the fans and media. But with his quality, he has proved everyone wrong and now has become a star player for Los Blancos.

Now, Mbappe and his fellow Madrid forwards have learned how each other moves, and have begun to compliment each other instead of getting in the way. A strong final third of the 2024/25 season could easily put him well in the conversation for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, especially with the chance to shine in the summer with the potential for winning the UEFA Nations League as well as the FIFA Club World Cup.

1. Raphinha

Raphinha has been the best of Barcelona’s electric front three so far this season. His raw goal and assist numbers certainly help back that up. He has been a consistent, heavily productive player since joining Barcelona, but he’s found a new gear under Hansi Flick.

His performance in the big games has made his name at the top of this list as he has been putting the work in each and every game for the Catalan side. The Brazilian played a key role in Barcelona’s first trophy of the season which they won against their arch-rival Real Madrid, i.e. Supercopa de Espana.

In 27 LaLiga games, he has scored 13 goals and provided eight assists. In 10 games in the Champions League, he has scored 11 goals and provided five assists. He is playing the best football of his career right now and if he wins more trophies then surely he will grab the Ballon d’Or this time.

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