PARIS: The wait is almost over for football’s most prestigious individual honour, as the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony kicks off tonight at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Ahead of the big reveal, organisers have released the rankings from positions 11 to 30, with some of football’s biggest names surprisingly falling short of the top 10.
Among the notable exclusions are Erling Haaland, Vinícius Jr., Robert Lewandowski, and Harry Kane, who despite strong seasons with their clubs, failed to break into the final shortlist.
Paris Saint-Germain led the pack in the middle tier, with Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Désiré Doué all featuring between positions 24 and 12. Their inclusion reflects the club’s strong domestic and European campaigns last season.
Elsewhere, Ousmane Dembélé remains tipped by many insiders to challenge for the ultimate crown later tonight, a development that could mark PSG’s growing dominance on the global stage.
Full Ballon d’Or 2025 Rankings (Positions 30–11)
30 — Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
29 — Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, Germany)
28 — Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
27 — Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)
26 — Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
25 — Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, Netherlands)
24 — Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain, Spain)
23 — Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
22 — Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, Argentina)
21 — Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund, Guinea)
20 — Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
19 — Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
18 — Scott McTominay (Napoli, Scotland)
17 — Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
16 — Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid, Brazil)
15 — Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP, Sweden)
14 — Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
13 — Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
12 — Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, Georgia)
11 — Pedri (Barcelona, Spain)
The exclusion of Haaland (26th) has sparked debate, with many pundits calling it a surprising drop considering his scoring record at Manchester City. Similarly, Vinícius Jr. (16th), fresh off another Champions League run with Real Madrid, was expected by some to crack the top 10.
On the other hand, the rise of younger stars like Désiré Doué (14th) and Joao Neves (19th) highlights a generational shift, suggesting the Ballon d’Or is increasingly rewarding emerging talents alongside established icons.
With the top 10 yet to be revealed, excitement is building across the football world. Fans are eager to see whether the crown will go to an established star, a PSG player riding the wave of the club’s dominance, or a surprise contender.
The official announcement of the Ballon d’Or 2025 winner will take place later tonight in Paris.
