Written by 
Arun – November 12, 2024
The 2025 Ballon d’Or race is wide open. Since 2022, the prestigious award has been handed out on the previous season’s performance, rather than the calendar year.
Usually presented during a ceremony in late October, here are five of the leading candidates to win the Ballon d’Or in 2025.
Harry Kane
Remarkably, Harry Kane has never finished in the top five of Ballon d’Or voting. With Paddy Power’s sports betting markets pricing Bayern Munich at 1/12 to win the Bundesliga and 1/9 to win the Champions League, Kane might have his best chance yet.
The new Champions League format, which is covered on Paddy Power news, means Bayern can recover after a couple of early slip-ups in the competition.
Kane scored 36 goals in 32 Bundesliga appearances in his first campaign in Germany. A similar return in 2024-25 along with a trophy or two will have him right in the mix for the Ballon d’Or.
Kylian Mbappé
Despite being considered one of the world’s best players for several years, Kylian Mbappé has only recorded one top-three finish in Ballon d’Or voting.
While he hasn’t had the easiest start as a Real Madrid player, his record is still solid. Things will get figured out at the Santiago Bernabeu as Carlo Ancelotti finds the perfect balance for his attack, whether that means using Mbappé as a lone striker or making space for him on the wing.
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool are somehow an even scarier proposition under Arne Slot than they were in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield. Mohamed Salah and co. have been dominant in domestic and continental competition so far.
Age doesn’t seem to be impacting the 32-year-old Salah. He’s in the 99th percentile among all attacking midfielders and wings in expected goals per 90, shots, and assists. His 8.72 touches per 90 in the opponent’s penalty area is elite.
Fifth-placed finishes in 2019 and 2022 are Salah’s previous bests in Ballon d’Or voting. Could he become the second Liverpool play to win the honour in 2025?
Robert Lewandowski
He might be into his age-35 campaign, but Robert Lewandowski continues to deliver for Barcelona. The former Borussia Dortmund man has been in phenomenal form for Barca in the opening weeks of the season.
His role is slightly more limited at Barcelona, which isn’t surprising in the twilight years of his career. Lewandowski’s shots per game mark has decreased since leaving the Bundesliga, but his expected goals per 90 minutes in 2024-25 is up with his peak years with Bayern and Dortmund.
Barcelona are threatening to run away at the top of the La Liga table. If Hansi Flick’s side can go deep in the Champions League, Lewandowski will be one of the Ballon d’Or favourites.
Kevin De Bruyne
Injuries have limited Kevin De Bruyne’s involvement at the start of the 2024-25 season, but there’s still plenty of time for the Belgian to play his way into Ballon d’Or contention.
De Bruyne, who is chasing Ryan Giggs’ record for the most assists in Premier League history, will have a major role to play if Manchester City are to win a fifth consecutive title. City are clear favourites for the Champions League at the time of writing, too.