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The prestigious individual honor will be awarded in September, with the list of nominees expected to be revealed in the coming weeks. ..Continue Reading
Currently held by Manchester City’s Rodri, the award will consider performances from August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025, with several top players in the running.
Mbappé’s best finish in the Ballon d’Or rankings was fourth in 2018 after winning the World Cup, and he’ll be aiming to improve on last year’s sixth-place result.
A strong showing in the ongoing Club World Cup with Real Madrid—especially in their upcoming semi-final clash against his former club Paris Saint-Germain—could boost his chances.
The winner of that match will face Chelsea, who defeated Fluminense 2–0 in the other semi-final at MetLife Stadium.
Regardless of the tournament’s outcome, Mbappé has already thrown his support behind his France teammate Ousmane Dembélé, who scored 34 goals in PSG’s treble-winning season under Luis Enrique.
Speaking last month, Mbappe said: “Would I vote for Dembele [to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or]? Yes. I don’t think it needs much explaining. “People are talking about Lamine Yamal and Dembélé, but my choice is clear: I vote for Dembélé.”
Yamal and Dembele came up against each other in the Nations League semi-finals, with Spain beating France 5-4 before losing to Portugal on penalties in the final at the Allianz Arena.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, is in agreement with Mbappe’s pick as he said “those who stand out and win the Champions League should win”, naming Dembele and his compatriot Vitinha.
“The individual awards have lost some consensus; I can’t say anything about who should win,” the five-time Ballon d’Or winner said in a press conference.
“In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win. But there is no consensus. I don’t believe much in individual awards because I know what goes on behind the scenes. Lamine could win, like Dembele or Vitinha, other emerging players… But individual awards are irrelevant.”
Dembele is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, with odds of 2/7 with Bet365. Yamal is behind with odds of 3/1, just ahead of Vitinha at 8/1.
The top 10 is dominated by PSG players, including Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Gianluigi Donnarumma
Ballon d’Or top 10 according to the bookies
Ousmane Dembele – 2/7
Lamine Yamal – 3/1
Vitinha – 8/1
Kylian Mbappe – 16/1
Mo Salah 20/1
Achraf Hakimi – 25/1
Nuno Mendes – 25/1
Raphinha – 33/1
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 40/1
Gianluigi Donnarumma – 50/1
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