Ousmane Dembele is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or award for 2025 today, though will face competition from Lamine Yamal.
A first-time winner is guaranteed this year, as no member of the 30-player shortlist has won football’s greatest individual honour before.
Unsurprisingly, Paris Saint-Germain dominate the nominations after winning a quadruple last season, including the club’s first Champions League title.
Joining Dembele are Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz, as well as former goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Much of the PSG contingent will not be in attendance, though, after their match with Marseille was postponed and will now be held at the same time as the awards ceremony.
Barcelona wonderkid Yamal is expected to be Dembele’s closest competition. The 18-year-old Spaniard enjoyed a breakout season last year, scoring a remarkable 18 goals and assisting a further 25 in all competitions after playing a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 success.
His team-mate Raphinha is also high on the bookies’ list ahead of Monday night’s ceremony in Paris, while Kylian Mbappe and Mohamed Salah are also considered contenders.
Two other Liverpool stars, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister, have also made the shortlist, while Erling Haaland, Declan Rice and Cole Palmer are also mooted. Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres makes the cut for his heroics at Sporting before he made his move to north London.
Ballon d’Or 2025 odds
Ousmane Dembele - 1/6
Lamine Yamal - 4/1
Vitinha - 16/1
Mohamed Salah - 16/1
Raphinha - 28/1
Kylian Mbappe - 33/1
Cole Palmer - 33/1
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 40/1
Achraf Hakimi - 40/1
Bar - 50/1
Odds via William Hill (subject to change).
