Ballon d’Or 2025 favourites include Dembele, Kane and Bonmati after standout seasons across Europe, with the winners to be crowned in Paris this Monday

Ballon d’Or 2025 Contenders are set to be crowned this Monday in Paris, with football’s most prestigious individual awards recognising a season of spectacular performances on both the men’s and women’s stage.

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The Théâtre du Châtelet will host the glittering ceremony, where elite names like Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane, Aitana Bonmati and Alessia Russo will hope their exploits across the 2024–25 campaign are rewarded with the iconic golden ball.

Paris St-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele emerges as a frontrunner after an electric season.

The Frenchman notched 35 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, helping PSG to a historic Champions League title, Ligue 1 triumph, and a Club World Cup final appearance.

His dynamic play earned him the Champions League player of the season title.

Harry Kane enjoyed a golden season at Bayern Munich, finally claiming his first major trophy by guiding the Bavarians to the Bundesliga title.

With 41 goals and 12 assists, Kane’s consistency and goal-scoring prowess make him a strong contender.

New Real Madrid signing Kylian Mbappe also had a prolific campaign, topping La Liga’s scoring chart with 31 goals and helping France to a podium finish in the Nations League.

Barcelona’s Raphinha and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah complete the list of leading contenders, each contributing to domestic titles and producing impressive goal tallies.

The youngest among them, Lamine Yamal, helped Barcelona to a domestic treble while making his mark for Spain. His 39 goal involvements this season place him among the most exciting young stars in world football.

Reigning two-time winner Aitana Bonmati could become the first woman to win three consecutive Ballon d’Ors.

Though her season was disrupted by illness, she returned to help Spain reach the Euros final and played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s domestic treble.

Alessia Russo delivered a career-defining season, winning both the Champions League and the Euros. With 12 goals and standout performances for Arsenal, she remains a top challenger.

Veteran Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d’Or winner herself, scored 16 and assisted 11 as Barcelona swept the Spanish league.

Rising star Claudia Pina also impressed, finishing as the Champions League’s top scorer despite Barcelona falling short in Europe.

Lucy Bronze, battling injury, still managed to inspire Chelsea to a domestic treble and led England to the Euros crown, while Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey played a vital role in their Champions League triumph.

With every nominee enjoying a sensational year, the Ballon d’Or 2025 favourites list is brimming with talent, legacy and breakthrough stories.

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All eyes now turn to Paris, where football history is poised to be rewritten once more.

David Okere

David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.