The Ballon d'Or Contenders

Who should be in contention? Vote in the poll and read on for a full breakdown.

By Patric Ridge

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The glitzy ceremony for this year’s Ballon d’Or will take place in Paris on September 22nd.

And while there is still a long way to go until then, with no major international tournament taking place this summer, then the primary contenders are surely set in stone already — the FIFA Club World Cup surely won’t have that much of a sway on the voting.

Nominees are set to be confirmed in late August, but with the 2024-25 European season now behind us, More Than A Game has made some picks for this year’s award.

MOHAMED SALAH

If this award was just for the best individual campaign, or year, then Salah would surely take it.

He finished the season on 57 goal contributions in all competitions, scoring 34 goals and providing 23 assists.

Liverpool surged to the Premier League title, and Salah was so often their inspiration.

However, that is the only trophy the Reds won in 2024-25, and that may factor against Salah in the voting. But, he is probably the best player in the world right now, and surely that should be the decisive factor?

mosalah

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OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ

Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph sealed a treble, and that means Dembélé may have just become the favourite — especially given he provided two assists in the final.

Dembélé finished the season with 33 goals in all competitions, having finally lived up his potential.

The 28-year-old has probably been the best performer in Europe’s top five leagues since the turn of the year, and with the Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup also in the offing for PSG, then he has every chance of capping his brilliant season with football’s biggest individual prize.

o.dembele7

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RAPHINHA

Only Salah can better Raphinha’s tally of 56 goal involvements in all competitions this season, with the Brazilian having transformed into one of the world’s deadliest forwards under Hansi Flick.