3 Early Frontrunners for the 2025 Ballon d’Or

The 2024/25 season is shaping up to be one for the history books, and with it comes the inevitable debate: who will win the 2025 Ballon d’Or? While the award won't be handed out until later in the year, we’re already seeing a handful of players separate themselves from the rest. From a Premier League legend defying age, to a former relegation battler now leading Barcelona, to a Galáctico finally finding his feet in Madrid, the race is heating up. So, let’s take a look at the three frontrunners for football’s most prestigious individual prize.

1) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt) 

The race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or is already heating up, and while there’s still plenty of football left to play, one name stands above the rest—Mohamed Salah. Despite turning 33 in the summer, the Egyptian superstar is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, he might just be playing the best football of his career. 

Under new Liverpool boss Arne Slot, Salah has been nothing short of sensational. Slot has built his attack around the Egyptian’s brilliance, and it’s paying off in a big way. With 21 goals and 13 assists in just 23 Premier League games, Salah is on course to surpass his numbers from that legendary 2017/18 season. And when you factor in all competitions, his tally climbs to 26 goals and 18 assists—outrageous numbers for a player many assumed would start declining in his 30s. 

But Salah’s case for the Ballon d’Or isn’t just about personal stats. Liverpool are firing on all cylinders and look poised for a historic season. They’re currently favorites to win the Premier League and the Champions League, and they’ve already booked their place in the Carabao Cup final. If Salah ends the season with a treble, it would be almost impossible to ignore his claim for football’s biggest individual prize. 

Winning the Ballon d’Or would also be historic for African football. Only one African player—George Weah in 1995—has ever won the award. Salah has come close before, but if he leads Liverpool to multiple trophies while maintaining his absurd goal contributions, he could finally break that barrier. 

The competition for the Ballon d’Or will undoubtedly be fierce, but right now, Salah is the clear frontrunner. He’s proving that age is just a number and that his greatness isn’t fading anytime soon. If he keeps this up and Liverpool finish the season as champions, the Egyptian King may finally get his hands on football’s most prestigious individual honor. 

2) Raphinha (Barcelona/Brazil) 

Football moves fast, and no one embodies that better than Raphinha. Just two years ago, he was battling relegation with Leeds United, fighting for survival in the Premier League. Now, he’s not just thriving at Barcelona—he’s their best player, their captain, and potentially on his way to a Ballon d’Or. It’s been a remarkable rise, but it’s no fluke. 

Under Xavi, Raphinha struggled for consistent minutes, often finding himself on the bench in big games. But everything changed when Hansi Flick arrived. The German coach immediately saw something special in the Brazilian and made him the focal point of Barcelona’s attack. The result? Raphinha has been unplayable. With 24 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, he’s putting up numbers that even the world’s elite would envy. He’s not just producing in La Liga either—he’s already led Barça to silverware, delivering a match-winning performance in the Spanish Supercopa final against Real Madrid, scoring twice to secure the trophy. 

But the real prize is still up for grabs. Barcelona are chasing a treble, and if they can pull it off, Raphinha will be at the heart of it. With his electric dribbling, pinpoint finishing, and relentless work rate, he’s transformed from a squad player into an irreplaceable leader. And history is on the line—no Brazilian has won the Ballon d’Or since Kaka in 2008. If Raphinha keeps up his form and Barça finish the season with major silverware, he could break that drought. 

The Ballon d’Or race is always unpredictable, and there are plenty of stars in the running. But right now, Raphinha is making a serious case for himself. From relegation scraps in England to potentially being crowned the best player in the world, his story is proof that in football, everything can change in an instant. 

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/France) 

Kylian Mbappe’s first season at Real Madrid was never going to be easy. The pressure was immense, expectations were sky-high, and when he struggled early on, the critics were ruthless. Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to play him as a central striker didn’t help, as it took him out of his natural game. Some of his early performances were shockingly poor, and in a football world that demands instant success, some were already labeling him a flop. But if there’s one thing we know about Mbappe, it’s that he thrives under pressure. 

Fast forward a few months, and Mbappe has completely flipped the script. He’s not just finding the net—he’s carrying Real Madrid’s attack. With 22 goals and 3 assists in 34 games, he’s their most dangerous player. In La Liga, he’s the second-highest scorer behind Robert Lewandowski with 16 goals, and no other Madrid player has even hit double figures yet. That tells you everything you need to know about his importance to this team. 

Madrid are top of the league – though only by a slim margin – and remain favorites to win the Champions League. If they manage to lift both trophies, Mbappe will be in the conversation for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. Right now, he’s still somewhat of an outsider in the race, but things can change quickly. A strong end to the season, a few clutch performances in big games, and suddenly, he could be the frontrunner. 

What makes Mbappe’s season even more impressive isn’t just the numbers but his mental toughness. Many players would have crumbled under the early pressure, but he adjusted, adapted, and is now proving why Madrid fought so hard to sign him. The Ballon d’Or race is wide open, but if Mbappe continues on this trajectory, he might just have a real shot at claiming football’s most prestigious individual award.