Ballon d’Or 2025: Who Are the Top 10 Players After the Champions League Final?

There was wild jubilation in Paris on Saturday night as Ousmane Dembélé, the mercurial winger for Paris Saint-Germain, emerged as the leading contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Dembélé, who has dazzled fans and critics alike with his electrifying performances this season, is now widely tipped to claim football’s most prestigious individual honour after guiding PSG to a historic treble.

The city of Paris was thrown into celebration after PSG thrashed Inter Milan “5-0” in the UEFA Champions League final, a result that handed the club its “first-ever European title”.

The victory, which many fans described as “unbelievable”, capped a remarkable campaign for the French giants who had earlier secured the “Ligue 1 title with games to spare” and also lifted the “Coupe de France” under the guidance of coach Luis Enrique.

“Dembélé’s name is now on everyone’s lips.” His impact on the pitch has been described as “magical” by analysts, with many pointing to his “33 goals and 15 assists in 49 matches” as evidence of his consistency and class.

The French international, who has struggled with injuries in the past, managed to stay fit throughout the season, delivering when it mattered most for his club.

Speaking after the Champions League final, PSG captain Marquinhos could not hide his excitement.

 “Ousmané, BALLON D’OR! Ousmané, BALLON D’OR!”

 he chanted, leading thousands of fans in a parade down the Champs Elysees. The message was clear: “the PSG dressing room is fully behind their star man.”

The latest odds from Odds Checker have placed Dembélé at the top of the Ballon d’Or rankings ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for September. “Dembele’s outstanding performances have propelled him to the top of the Ballon d’Or rankings,” one football expert noted.

Another analyst added, “He has shown leadership, skill, and determination all season long. This is his year.”

But Dembélé is not the only player in the spotlight. Barcelona’s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal, and his teammate Raphinha, are also in the running after impressive seasons in Spain.

 Yamal, just 17, has been hailed as “the next big thing in world football”, having scored “18 goals and provided 25 assists” to help Barcelona to a domestic treble.

Raphinha, on his part, delivered “crucial goals and assists, especially in the latter stages of the campaign.”

Liverpool’s talisman, Mohamed Salah, remains a strong contender after helping the Reds to another “Premier League title”, while Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez is also in the mix after finishing as “Serie A top scorer” and reaching the Champions League final.

PSG’s dominance this season is further highlighted by the presence of their goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, new signing Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, and rising star Désiré Doué in the top 10. Barcelona’s midfield maestro, Pedri, and PSG’s own Kylian Mbappé, who continues to deliver at the highest level, also made the cut.

Full Top 10 Ballon d’Or Rankings 2025:

1. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
3. Raphinha (Barcelona)
4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
5. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
6. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
7. Kvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
8. Pedri (Barcelona)
9. Kylian Mbappé (PSG)
10. Désiré Doué (PSG)

Football observers say Dembélé’s chances are bright because of his influence in the Champions League, a competition that always weighs heavily in Ballon d’Or voting.

His ability to remain “consistent and injury-free,” coupled with PSG’s “historic treble,” has set him apart from his rivals. As one analyst put it, “If Dembélé doesn’t win it this year, who will?”

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in Paris in September, and with no major international tournaments this season, all eyes are on club football achievements. For now, the football world is watching closely to see if Dembélé will finally be crowned the best player on the planet.

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