After Saturday night’s Champions League final there now appears to be a clear favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Paris Saint-Germain romped to a stunning 5-0 win over Inter Milan in Munich, winning European football’s biggest prize for the first time.
Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring, teenager Desire Doue netted twice, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia making it four and substitute Senny Mayulu completing the mauling late on.
Manager Luis Enrique picked out another name for his Ballon d’Or tip, though, suggesting Ousmane Dembele should land the individual award for his team work.
‘As a team, we have demonstrated an incredible way of defending,’ said Enrique in his post match press conference.
‘Everyone is talking about the Ballon d’Or. I would give it to Ousmane Dembele for his way of defending.
‘He is a model, his pressing. In the final, he was exceptional. He deserves it for his goals but especially for his way of defending.
‘We have put in some very high-level performances. Now we are going to celebrate that.’
The Frenchman has also scored plenty of goals this season, netting 33 times in 49 appearances across all competitions.
The bookmakers appear to agree with Enrique, slotting in Dembele as the favourite to claim the Ballon d’Or for the first time this year.
When is the 2025 Ballon d’Or?
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on Monday 22 September at the Theatre du Châtelet in Paris.
The award is now given out for the past season rather than the past calendar year. Nominees will be announced in August.
2025 Ballon d’Or odds
Ousmane Dembele 1/2
Lamine Yamal 11/4
Mohamed Salah 8/1
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 12/1
Raphinha 20/1
Gianluigi Donnarumma 25/1
Lautaro Martinez 33/1
Kylian Mbappe 50/1
Pedri 50/1
Odds courtesy of BetVictor
Barcelona’s incredible 17-year-old forward Lamine Yamal is the other player in the running to scoop the Ballon d’Or after a brilliant season.
The teenager was a key figure in Barca’s La Liga and Copa del Rey triumphs, finishing the campaign with 18 goals in 55 games.
Mohamed Salah is also in the running, but not being given a great chance by the bookmakers despite his 34 goals for Liverpool in all competitions and a second Premier League title with the Reds.
As UEFA.com confirms: ‘The 2025 awards will include the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, Men’s and Women’s Kopa Trophy (best young player), Men’s and Women’s Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper), Men’s and Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in club/national team), Men’s and Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach in club/national team), Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year, and Sócrates Award, presented by L’Équipe group and Peace and Sport, for solidarity actions or societal causes carried out by a committed champion.’