In a surprising twist ahead of the prestigious Ballon d’Or 2025, neither Kylian Mbappé nor Erling Haaland are considered frontrunners for the award — despite both making the official 30-man longlist.

According to a projection by Zonal Sports, a new wave of talent is set to dominate this year’s edition, with rising stars and standout performers from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain leading the charge.

Top 10 Favourites for the Ballon d’Or 2025

 1. Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain) 2. Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona) 3. Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona) 4. Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain) 5. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool) 6. João Neves (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain) 7. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain) 8. Pedri (Spain, Barcelona) 9. Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Barcelona) 10. Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain) 

The Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony is scheduled for September 22 at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where the football world will gather to crown the sport’s next individual king.