Ballon d’Or 2025: Projection places Dembélé as favorite and excludes Brazilians
With the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony set for September 22 in Paris, projections are heating up and French winger Ousmane Dembélé is emerging as the clear favorite. According to a new ranking by the portal Score 90, no Brazilian player is expected to feature in the award’s top five this year.
Dembélé Leads Ballon d’Or Race After Super Cup Heroics
Dembélé’s stellar display in PSG’s European Super Cup win over Tottenham on August 13 appears to have cemented his status. Named man of the match, the Frenchman helped secure another trophy for the Parisian side and strengthened his Ballon d’Or case.
The Score 90 projection places Lamine Yamal in second place and Kylian Mbappé in third. Pedri takes fourth, while Mohamed Salah closes out the predicted top five. Notably absent are Brazilian stars including Raphinha, despite his standout season with Barcelona.
PSG Breaks Nomination Record
FIFA’s official shortlist includes 30 players, with Paris Saint-Germain setting a new record by having nine nominees. The club’s dominance reflects a season filled with silverware and individual brilliance from its roster.
Dembélé’s 2024/25 Season in Numbers
The 27-year-old Frenchman enjoyed one of the most productive campaigns of his career, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists in 53 matches for PSG contributing directly to 49 goals in total.
With less than two months to go before the ceremony, all signs point to Dembélé lifting the most prestigious individual award in football unless a late surge from another contender shakes up the race.
