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10. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 11 goals, 15 assists, 21 clean sheets. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
Debates over who is the best right-back in world football throw up a whole host of contenders for the crown, but right now it'd be difficult to look past Achraf Hakimi were a World XI being selected. The PSG star has been a consistently high performer for half a decade across his spells at Borussia Dortmund and Inter, and he looks to be getting even better.
Strong defensively while providing a threat in attacking areas, Hakimi scored key goals in each of the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals and final for Luis Enrique's side, meaning the Morocco international should have caught the eye of enough Ballon d'Or voters to earn a place on the shortlist.
9. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 14 goals, 11 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Serie A & Coupe de France.
Kvaratskhelia's goal and assist numbers don't quite match the level of his play at times this season, but the Georgia winger contributed towards two different title triumphs, for PSG and Napoli, while playing a key role for the French side en route to them winning the Champions League.
Some electric moments in the European knockouts, most notably his superb goal against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, will have caught the attention of Ballon d'Or voters, and a second Golden Ball nomination is a certainty now.
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8. Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 15 goals, 16 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
Doue wasn't always a guaranteed starter for PSG, but whenever he got on the pitch, he made sure not to waste a minute. That resulted in the summer signing from Rennes enjoying a debut campaign to remember, capped by his performances in the knockout rounds of the Champions League.
The teenager was trusted by Luis Enrique to start the majority of the games in the latter stages, and he repaid his manager's faith and then some by producing one of the great European final performances in Munich. Factor in he provided two assists the previous week in the Coupe de France final, and Doue is already showing himself to be the man for the big occasion.
7. Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: Seven goals, 12 assists, 13 clean sheets. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions & UEFA Nations League.
Nuno Mendes' talent has been evident for a few years now, but the part he played in PSG's Champions League run seemed to elevate the Portugal international to new heights among fans around the world. The ex-Sporting CP star earned plaudits for the way he shut down Mohamed Salah against Liverpool in the last 16 before scoring goals in both legs of the quarter-final victory over Aston Villa.
He faced another big test in the semis up against Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, but he again rose to the occasion while also playing an important role in the only goal of the first leg for the Parisiens. Perhaps the sternest examination of them all, however, came in the Nations League final against Spain and Lamine Yamal, only for Mendes to dominate their personal battle while scoring once and setting up another.
In 2024-25: Seven goals, six assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Trophee des Champions & UEFA Nations League.
After being something of a surprise inclusion on last year's Ballon d'Or shortlist, it would now be a shock if Vitinha were to miss out on a place among the nominees in 2025 after a masterful campaign in PSG's midfield.
The ex-Wolves loanee was the beating heart of Luis Enrique's much-improved side, and earned Xavi comparisons as the French giants completed their treble by wining the Champions League. He then backed that up with some impressive displays as Portugal won the Nationsl League in June.
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5. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
In 2024-25: 45 goals, seven assists. Won UEFA Super Cup & Intercontinental Cup.
Mbappe may not have enjoyed the start to life at Real Madrid that he or the club's fans wanted, but he still scored his fair share of goals, and looked to have taken his game to another level after scoring a stunning hat-trick against Manchester City in February that was seen by many as a true announcement of his arrival at the Bernabeu.
However, things began to spin out of control for Madrid as the season entered its final weeks as they surrendered their Champions League crown in meek fashion against Arsenal, lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona (despite some Mbappe heroics, it must be said) and the Liga title also headed from the Bernabeu and back to Barca.
It's no secret that Mbappe craves the Ballon d'Or given its standing in his home country, but he will likely have to make do with just the European Golden Shoe this time around.
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4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
In 2024-25: 36 goals, 24 assists. Won Premier League.
Speculation over Salah's future has finally been put to bed after he signed a new two-year contract at Liverpool, and few can argue that it is not well deserved. 'The Egyptian King' has rediscovered his best form and then some under new coach Arne Slot, leading the Reds to secure the Premier League title at a canter.
However, having been the overwhelming favourite for most of this Ballon d'Or campaign, Salah's hopes were damaged by Liverpool's shock last-16 elimination in the Champions League, and his own no-show in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle a few days later. The 32-year-old could still yet become Africa's first Golden Ball winner since 1995, but the odds on him doing so in 2025 have lengthened massively.
3. Raphinha (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: 39 goals, 25 assists. Won La Liga, Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
There were those who argued against it early on, but it's been clear for much of the campaign that Raphinha was the most decisive of Barcelona's electric front-three, and his raw goal and assist numbers certainly help back that up. The ex-Leeds United winger would likely have been sold last summer if Barca had managed to complete a deal to sign Nico Williams, but the Brazilian has shrugged that off to lead the Blaugrana to a domestic treble.
There is no doubt that Raphinha is playing the best football of his career right now - but will that be enough to win him the Ballon d'Or?
2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
In 2024-25: 21 goals, 26 assists. Won La Liga, Copa del Rey & Supercopa de Espana.
No player has won the Ballon d'Or before their 21st birthday in the almost-70 years of the award, but right now it would be a shock if Yamal didn't break that record given he has another three seasons to get there! There is presently no greater talent in the game than the Barcelona teenager, who, as he showed 2024-25, is only going to get better and better.
He was outscored by two of his team-mates in Catalunya, but plenty of La Liga watchers will tell you that the 17-year-old has been the most impressive attacking player in Spain. Coupled with his Champions League showings, which reached outrageous new heights against Inter in the semi-finals, he might now be the top Golden Ball candidate within the Barca dressing room.
1. Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
In 2024-25: 35 goals, 15 assists. Won Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de France & Trophee des Champions.
Was this the season where the real Dembele finally arrived?! Ever since he left Borussia Dortmund for Barcelona, the France winger has frustrated fans more than he's delighted them, despite clearly being a player of rare ability.
Since the turn of the year, though, Dembele found a groove at PSG, as his performances helped the French champions continue their stranglehold of Ligue 1.
Their dreams of finally winning the Champions League also came true thanks, in part, to Dembele's strikes at Anfield and the Emirates in the knockouts, as well as his two assist in the final.
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No player has had a more productive 2025 from either an individual or team perspective, and that is why he should now be considered the Ballon d'Or-elect.
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