The Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly over the Ballon d’Or appears to have come to an end, as Manchester City midfielder Rodri was crowned the 2024 winner ahead of Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham. The midfielder was instrumental in success for both club and country, and with Messi and Ronaldo now plying their trade away from Europe, it appears as though Rodri’s victory is the official marking of a new era. Now we are giving a detail overview on Ballon d’Or 2025 Power Rankings.
See Also: Top 10 Youngest Football Players In The World In 2024
While the Spaniard is a well-deserving recipient this year, the ACL injury he suffered in the early part of the 2024/25 campaign means that it is incredibly unlikely that the 28-year-old will be able to successfully defend his crown. This means, barring a miraculous recovery and some incredible performances, 2025 is set to bring a new champion to the table. Here is the Ballon d’Or 2025 Power Rankings:
Ranking factors
We’ve determined the order based on the following:
- Goals scored
- Assists
- Clean sheets (if defensive-minded)
- Trophies won/challenged for (expected to)
- Big moments in the 2024/25 season
- General form
| Ballon d’Or Power Rankings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Club | Country | Position |
| 1. | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | Egypt | Forward |
| 2. | Vinicius Junior | Real Madrid | Brazil | Forward |
| 3. | Erling Haaland | Manchester City | Norway | Forward |
| 4. | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Spain | Forward |
| 5. | Robert Lewandowski | Barcelona | Poland | Forward |
| 6. | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | England | Forward |
| 7. | Raphinha | Barcelona | Brazil | Forward |
| 8. | Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid | England | Forward |
| 9. | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid | England | Midfield |
| 10. | Bukayo Saka | Arsenal | England | Forward |
10. Bukayo Saka
Arsenal & England
After finishing 21st in the 2024 rankings, Bukayo Saka will be looking to make leaps and bounds, both in terms of his overall position and in his game as a whole over the next 12 months. The fearless winger has gone from strength to strength under Mikel Arteta’s leadership and is more often than not one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League.
| Bukayo Saka for Arsenal in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 19 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 11 |
09. Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid & England
There were not many fans that foresaw how much of an impact Jude Bellingham would make on Real Madrid’s aspirations upon the news that he was swapping Borussia Dortmund for the Spanish top flight – but the lanky midfielder, a 40-cap England international, notched a lofty 23 goals and a further 13 assists across all competitions.
| Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 17 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 5 |
08. Kylian Mbappe
Real Madrid & France
It feels like an inevitability that at some point in his career, Kylian Mbappe will stand on the top of the podium lifting the famous golden ball. The French forward has been touted as a future successor to Messi and Ronaldo, but now in his mid-twenties, he has still not achieved his destiny.
| Kylian Mbappe for Real Madrid in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 20 |
| Goals | 10 |
| Assists | 2 |
07. Raphinha
Barcelona & Brazil
Formerly the posterboy of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United, Raphinha has begun to silence the critics with his combination of firepower and trickery becoming all too much for defenders in the Spanish top tier. Eyebrows were certainly raised when Barcelona, one of the biggest teams in the world, forked out for the Brazilian.
| Raphinha for FC Barcelona in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 21 |
| Goals | 16 |
| Assists | 10 |
06. Harry Kane
Bayern Munich & England
A trophy-hungry Harry Kane will be motivated by silverware this season after his disappointments with both Bayern Munich and England over the last 12 months. While that may be his primary goal, his role in achieving that could line him up for plenty of individual acclaim.
| Harry Kane for Bayern Munich in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 19 |
| Goals | 20 |
| Assists | 9 |
05. Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona & Poland
There were fears among some that Robert Lewandowski was beginning a slow decline last season, as the usually talismanic goalscorer was no longer reaching the heights that fans had come to expect from him. Father time does catch up with everyone, and it appeared the former Bayern Munich star was no exception.
| Robert Lewandowski for Barcelona in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 20 |
| Goals | 22 |
| Assists | 2 |
04. Lamine Yamal
Barcelona & Spain
There has never been a teenage winner of the Ballon d’Or before, and the fact of the matter is, Lamine Yamal still has another couple of years to achieve this feat. If he continues his incredible upward trajectory, all bets are off as to whether or not he can really do it.
| Lamine Yamal for Barcelona in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 18 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Assists | 9 |
03. Erling Haaland
Manchester City & Norway
By the standards Erling Haaland set in his first season at Manchester City, his follow-up campaign may have seemed a little underwhelming – even though he still claimed the Premier League Golden Boot. However, he came out flying this season around, and few players have started as dominantly as him.
| Erling Haaland for Manchester City in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 20 |
| Goals | 17 |
| Assists | 1 |
02. Vinicius Junior
Real Madrid & Brazil
After refusing to attend the Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2024 once he found out he wasn’t going to win the award, Vinicius Jr may have to wait one more year before being crowned the first Brazilian since Kaka to claim the prestigious trophy. It’s understandable why the winger was caught off guard by the fact he didn’t win in the most recent go-around. After all, he had been the favourite even on the day of the gala.
| Vinicius Junior for Real Madrid in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 18 |
| Goals | 12 |
| Assists | 8 |
01. Mohamed Salah
Liverpool & Egypt
A total of 21 goal contributions in his opening 14 Premier League games is a return that typifies Mohamed Salah’s impact at Liverpool ever since he made the move to Anfield. Despite the fact he is approaching the latter stages of his career, and that he is having to work with a new manager for the first time since arriving on Merseyside, the Egyptian King remains one of the Premier League’s very best players.
In fact, he seems to be getting even better with age. History has shown that statistical data is becoming all the more important when dictating who wins individual awards. As a result, Salah can never be ruled out when he is as efficient as he has been – especially if Liverpool reign victorious in the Premier League and/or Champions League at Slot’s first time of asking.
| Mohamed Salah for Liverpool in 2024/25 | |
|---|---|
| Games | 21 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 12 |