Ballon d’Or 2025: The Complete Top 10 Winner List

Ballon d’Or 2025: The Complete Top 10 Winner List takes you through the most anticipated football award of the year, revealing the full rankings of the world’s best players. From established superstars to emerging talents, this list showcases those who dominated the football stage in 2025, both at club and international level. Discover who claimed the coveted Golden Ball, who narrowly missed out, and the surprises that shook the footballing world. Fans will get a detailed look at the top 10 performers, their achievements, and the moments that defined their season.

Whether it’s incredible goal-scoring feats, match-winning performances, or exceptional leadership on the pitch, this comprehensive list celebrates the players who made 2025 unforgettable. Perfect for football enthusiasts, analysts, and casual fans alike, it offers insight into the trends shaping modern football and the elite stars who are setting the standard for excellence. Stay updated, debate the choices, and relive the highlights of the season with Ballon d’Or 2025: The Complete Top 10 Winner List, your ultimate guide to the world’s most prestigious individual football award.

10. Nuno Mendes – Portugal, Left Back, PSG

Nuno Mendes had a quietly exceptional season in 2025, proving himself as one of the most dynamic full-backs in world football. The Portuguese star blended defensive solidity with incredible attacking flair, making him indispensable for PSG. His pace, positioning, and ability to recover quickly allowed him to dominate the left flank, supporting both defensive duties and creating scoring opportunities for teammates. While full-backs rarely get recognition in the Ballon d’Or race, Mendes’ influence in key Champions League matches and Ligue 1 triumphs earned him a deserved spot in the top 10.

Mendes’ consistency and intelligence on the pitch set him apart from his peers. He completed crucial tackles, intercepted dangerous passes, and consistently contributed to PSG’s attacking momentum. Beyond his defensive acumen, his technical skill and crossing ability turned him into a genuine threat going forward, assisting vital goals in high-stakes matches. At only 22 years old, Mendes’ rise signals a long-term presence among football’s elite, and his top-10 Ballon d’Or placement recognizes both his current brilliance and future potential.

9. Gianluigi Donnarumma – Italy, Goalkeeper, PSG

Gianluigi Donnarumma cemented his reputation as one of the world’s finest goalkeepers in 2025, combining agility, shot-stopping, and leadership. At PSG, he produced a series of match-defining performances, particularly in the Champions League, where his reflex saves kept his team in contention during tight encounters. Donnarumma’s presence in goal brought a sense of security and confidence to the squad, allowing PSG’s defenders to push higher and support attacking play.

The Italian star also showcased his calmness under pressure, excelling in penalty shootouts and high-stakes situations, traits that had made him a hero for Italy in previous tournaments. While goalkeepers seldom finish at the top in Ballon d’Or voting, Donnarumma’s consistent excellence and impact on PSG’s domestic and European campaigns earned him a deserved top-10 finish. His ability to combine technical prowess with tactical understanding makes him one of the most complete keepers in the modern era, and his performances in 2025 highlight why he remains an essential figure in elite football.

8. Cole Palmer – England, Attacking Midfielder, Chelsea

Cole Palmer has emerged as one of England’s brightest young talents, combining flair, creativity, and big-game impact. Despite struggles with consistency during the season, Palmer proved his worth when it mattered most, shining in the Europa League Conference final and Chelsea’s surprise Club World Cup triumph. His dribbling, vision, and attacking intelligence allowed him to unlock defences, creating opportunities for teammates while also posing a goal threat himself.

Chelsea’s return to the Champions League offers Palmer further chances to impress on Europe’s biggest stage, and England’s strong prospects at the 2026 World Cup could elevate his international profile. At just 23, Palmer has time to develop into a consistent performer at the highest level. His top-10 Ballon d’Or finish reflects both his current influence and his potential for growth, signaling the arrival of a new generation of English attacking midfielders. If Palmer can sustain his performance week-in, week-out, he could soon challenge for even higher honors in the global football arena.

7. Kylian Mbappé – France, Center Forward, Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé continued to demonstrate why he is among the world’s elite forwards. Despite an uneven start to his Real Madrid career, he ended the season in scintillating form, netting 31 goals and claiming the European Golden Shoe. His hat-trick in El Clásico showcased his ability to perform under pressure, combining pace, finishing, and intelligence to devastating effect.

Mbappé’s speed, technical skill, and composure in front of goal make him a constant threat for defenders. Beyond club football, he is on the verge of becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, further enhancing his international reputation. This combination of club and international performance solidified his Ballon d’Or top-10 placement, reflecting both current achievements and long-term influence on the game. As Real Madrid and France aim for major honors in 2026, Mbappé remains a key figure in their pursuit of glory.

6. Achraf Hakimi – Morocco, Right Back, PSG

Achraf Hakimi is widely regarded as one of the most complete modern full-backs, combining defensive solidity with attacking dynamism. At PSG, he was pivotal, providing crucial assists, recovering possession, and covering the entire right flank with exceptional pace and stamina. His versatility allowed him to adapt to multiple tactical setups, making him indispensable for both club and country.

Morocco’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and potential World Cup qualification put Hakimi in the spotlight once again. Despite the challenges of being a defender in Ballon d’Or voting, his influence on PSG’s domestic and European campaigns earned him a top-10 finish. Hakimi’s technical ability, crossing, and offensive contributions highlight his importance in modern football, cementing his reputation as one of the world’s elite right-backs.

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5. Raphinha – Brazil, Left Winger, Barcelona

Raphinha has been one of Barcelona’s most electrifying attackers, combining pace, dribbling, and creativity to unlock defences consistently. His ability to cut inside from the left wing and deliver both goals and assists made him indispensable to Xavi’s tactical setup. Over the course of the season, he demonstrated remarkable consistency in La Liga, contributing to Barcelona’s attack with crucial goals and incisive passes, while also thriving in key Champions League moments.

For Brazil, Raphinha’s international form further strengthens his Ballon d’Or credentials. His combination of flair, technical skill, and work rate makes him one of the world’s most complete wingers. Barcelona’s push for both domestic and European success in 2025 elevated his profile, cementing his place among the elite. The 26-year-old continues to refine his decision-making and finishing, proving that he can be both a creator and a deadly goal threat. A top-10 finish in the Ballon d’Or reflects Raphinha’s growing influence at the highest level and highlights his importance to club and country in the coming seasons.

4. Mohamed Salah – Egypt, Right Winger, Liverpool

Mohamed Salah remains one of the most lethal wingers in world football. Even at 33, the Egyptian forward continues to dominate the Premier League, blending blistering pace with exceptional finishing and vision. Salah was instrumental in Liverpool’s domestic and European campaigns, often turning games with his incisive runs and precise goal-scoring ability.

Internationally, Salah has opportunities to shine at both the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup, making his Ballon d’Or case even stronger. Despite fierce competition, his sustained excellence, leadership on the pitch, and consistent threat in front of goal earned him a top-5 ranking. Salah combines experience, intelligence, and technical brilliance, making him a constant menace for defenders. His ability to perform in crucial moments solidifies his place among the world’s elite wingers and demonstrates why he remains a key contender for global accolades even in the later stages of his career.

3. Vitinha – Portugal, Attacking Midfielder, PSG

Vitinha has emerged as one of football’s most influential midfielders, combining creativity, vision, and tactical intelligence. The 25-year-old was pivotal for PSG’s treble-winning campaign, dictating tempo, linking play, and contributing goals and assists at key moments. His performances for Portugal, including helping secure the Nations League title, further cemented his status among the elite.

Versatile and intelligent, Vitinha excels in both defensive transitions and attacking build-up, making him one of the most complete modern midfielders. His Ballon d’Or placement recognizes his consistent excellence at both club and international level. PSG’s Champions League ambitions and Portugal’s World Cup prospects could further elevate Vitinha’s profile, potentially putting him in contention for the top spot. A combination of skill, work ethic, and footballing intelligence highlights why Vitinha is now considered a central figure in European football, capable of influencing matches on the biggest stages.

2. Lamine Yamal – Spain, Right Winger, Barcelona

Lamine Yamal, only 18, has already shown generational talent that defies his age. His performances for Barcelona were exceptional, terrorizing defenders with blistering pace, dribbling, and goal-scoring ability. The teenager’s impact in the Champions League, particularly against elite opposition, signaled the arrival of a potential future superstar.

Spain’s national team also benefits from his presence, as Yamal continues to shine at both youth and senior levels. Despite his young age, he finished second in the Ballon d’Or voting, demonstrating the football world’s recognition of his influence and potential. Yamal’s combination of skill, composure, and tactical awareness make him one of the most exciting talents globally, and if he maintains his trajectory, the Ballon d’Or could be within his grasp multiple times in the near future.

1. Ousmane Dembélé – France, Center Forward, PSG

Ousmane Dembélé has transformed into one of the most complete forwards in world football. His speed, dribbling, and finishing ability allow him to dominate matches for PSG. Despite injury setbacks, Dembélé’s influence when fit was undeniable, producing decisive goals and assists in critical moments, both in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

His Ballon d’Or win reflects his consistency, technical brilliance, and match-winning capacity. As France’s attacking lynchpin, he combines flair and intelligence, often unbalancing defences with a single move. Dembélé’s journey to the top honors demonstrates resilience and world-class talent, cementing his legacy as one of the most electrifying forwards of his generation. With PSG’s continued pursuit of European glory and France’s international ambitions, Dembélé remains a central figure in world football, deserving the Ballon d’Or recognition for 2025.

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