{"id":8943,"date":"2025-03-28T07:30:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T07:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=8943"},"modified":"2025-03-28T07:30:43","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T07:30:43","slug":"whos-winning-the-ballon-dor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/whos-winning-the-ballon-dor","title":{"rendered":"Who&#8217;s winning the race for the Ballon d&#8217;Or?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Ballon d\u2019Or race is heating up as the 2024-25 season barrels toward its climax, and this year, it\u2019s anyone\u2019s game. Without a summer international tournament to tilt the scales, club performances are the sole currency\u2014goals, assists, trophies, and those indelible moments that define legacies. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/rodri-hernandez-39961\">Rodri\u2019s<\/a> 2024 win certified the end of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Messi<\/a>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cristiano-ronaldo-817\">Ronaldo<\/a> duopoly, but with the Spaniard sidelined by injury, a new champion will emerge. The field is a mix of teenage prodigies, resurgent stars, and grizzled veterans, each weaving a narrative that could sway voters. As of March, eight players stand atop the Ballon d\u2019Or pile, their cases built on stats, swagger, and silverware potential. Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Ballon d&#8217;Or Contenders<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#lamine-yamal-the-kid-whos-already-a-giant\">Lamine Yamal: The Kid Who\u2019s Already a Giant<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#ousmane-dembele-the-redemption-arc-hits-its-peak\">Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9: The Redemption Arc Hits Its Peak<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#vinicius-junior-the-fire-still-burns\">Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior: The Fire Still Burns<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#harry-kane-the-drought-ender-in-sight\">Harry Kane: The Drought-Ender in Sight<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#jude-bellingham-the-maestro-in-a-new-role\">Jude Bellingham: The Maestro in a New Role<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#robert-lewandowski-the-ageless-wonder-strikes-back\">Robert Lewandowski: The Ageless Wonder Strikes Back<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#pedri-the-silent-engine-of-barcelonas-revival\">Pedri: The Silent Engine of Barcelona\u2019s Revival<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#mohamed-salah-the-veteran-still-roarin\">Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian Is Still Roaring<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lamine-yamal-the-kid-whos-already-a-giant\">Lamine Yamal: The Kid Who\u2019s Already a Giant<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lamine-yamal-131182\">Lamine Yamal<\/a> shouldn\u2019t be this good, this young. At 17, the Barcelona winger has 13 goals and 16 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions, numbers that scream superstar for a player still in his teens. His breakout at Euro 2024 was just the appetizer; this season, he\u2019s the main course. Take October\u2019s El Cl\u00e1sico: Yamal\u2019s curling strike past Andriy Lunin wasn\u2019t just a goal\u2014it was a declaration, his icy celebration a middle finger to the notion of youthful inexperience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Barcelona\u2019s resurgence under Hansi Flick owes much to Yamal. They lead La Liga and are in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the teenager as their spark. No one under 20 has ever won the Ballon d\u2019Or\u2014Ronaldo was 21 in 1997\u2014but Yamal\u2019s trajectory suggests he could rewrite that Ballon d\u2019Or history. The caveat? He\u2019s logging heavy minutes, and a late-season fade could dim his shine. For now, he\u2019s a phenomenon, a kid playing like a veteran with the world watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Lamine Yamal is the youngest goalscorer in the history of the UEFA Nations League, aged 17 and 253 days <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NOdAcyogLL\">pic.twitter.com\/NOdAcyogLL<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1904064266879029753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 24, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"ousmane-dembele-the-redemption-arc-hits-its-peak\">Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9: The Redemption Arc Hits Its Peak<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/ousmane-dembele-39779\">Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019s<\/a> career has been a wild ride\u2014flashes of genius derailed by injuries\u2014but in 2025, he\u2019s found his stride. The PSG forward has 30 goals and six assists in 37 games, including a staggering 21 in Ligue 1 alone. Kylian Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s exit to Real Madrid handed Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 the keys to Paris, and he\u2019s delivered. His equalizer at Anfield against Liverpool in the Champions League last-16 was a microcosm of his season: pace, poise, and a finish that said, \u201cI\u2019m here to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>PSG are unbeaten in Ligue 1 and face Aston Villa in the Champions League quarters. If they go deep\u2014or win it all\u2014Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019s case becomes ironclad. At 27, he\u2019s shedding the \u201cwhat-if\u201d label, proving he\u2019s more than a highlight reel. The only knock is Ligue 1\u2019s softer reputation, but his numbers and big-game moments are hard to ignore. This isn\u2019t just a comeback\u2014it\u2019s a Ballon d\u2019Or coronation in waiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">? Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 nets his 21st goal of 2025 across all competitions, becoming the first player from the top five leagues to achieve this in the first three months of a calendar year since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018! ?? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uaRZaQebLe\">pic.twitter.com\/uaRZaQebLe<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1899567602625569153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 11, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vinicius-junior-the-fire-still-burns\">Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior: The Fire Still Burns<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/vinicius-junior-48298\">Vin\u00edcius J\u00fanior<\/a> plays like a man possessed, and maybe he is. After finishing second to Rodri in 2024\u2014a result that sparked Real Madrid\u2019s ceremony boycott\u2014he\u2019s back with 18 goals and nine assists in 39 games. His second-half hat-trick against Dortmund in the Champions League flipped a 2-0 deficit into a 5-2 rout, a reminder of his knack for seizing the spotlight. He\u2019s still Real\u2019s most dangerous weapon, even with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/kylian-mbappe-39820\">Mbapp\u00e9<\/a> in the fold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Madrid\u2019s season has been patchy, but they\u2019re alive in La Liga and the Champions League quarters. Vin\u00edcius thrives in chaos\u2014his dribbling, his flair, his refusal to back down. Sharing the attack with Mbapp\u00e9 and Bellingham might thin his stats, but his ability to deliver on the biggest stages\u2014like the 2022 Champions League final\u2014keeps him front and center. This isn\u2019t just a campaign; it\u2019s a vendetta, and he\u2019s not done yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-1583887835-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Ballon d'Or: Real Madrid forward Vini Jr. (#7) dribble up field during the Soccer Champions Tour match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona on July 29, 2023 at AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington, TX.\" class=\"wp-image-8950\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> (Photo by Matthew Visinsky\/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"harry-kane-the-drought-ender-in-sight\">Harry Kane: The Drought-Ender in Sight<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/harry-kane-1669\">Harry Kane\u2019s<\/a> career is a paradox: a goalscoring titan with no trophies to show for it. In 2025, that could change. The Bayern Munich striker has 32 goals and 9 assists in 37 games, including 21 in the Bundesliga and 10 in the Champions League. His brace against Lazio in the round of 16 was pure Kane\u2014ruthless efficiency in a 3-0 win that sent Bayern to the quarters. With an six-point lead in Germany and the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena, the stars are aligning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kane\u2019s 2024 Gerd M\u00fcller Trophy\u2014shared with Mbapp\u00e9 for 52 goals\u2014proved he\u2019s still elite at 31. No Englishman has won the Ballon d\u2019Or since Michael Owen in 2001, and Kane\u2019s quiet consistency doesn\u2019t always scream \u201csuperstar.\u201d But if Bayern lift silverware, his case strengthens. He\u2019s not flashy; he\u2019s relentless. This could be the year the curse breaks\u2014and the golden ball follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2089681099-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"Harry Kane of Bayern Muenchen reacts during the Bundesliga match between SV Darmstadt 98 and FC Bayern M\u00fcnchen at Merck-Stadion am B\u00f6llenfalltor on March 16, 2024 in Darmstadt, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm\/Getty Images) \" class=\"wp-image-8951\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Alex Grimm\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"jude-bellingham-the-maestro-in-a-new-role\">Jude Bellingham: The Maestro in a New Role<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/jude-bellingham-73000\">Jude Bellingham\u2019s<\/a> first Real Madrid season was a dream\u201423 goals, La Liga Player of the Year, a Champions League title at 20. This year, he\u2019s evolving. Mbapp\u00e9\u2019s arrival has nudged him deeper, and his 11 goals and 11 assists in 38 games reflect a shift to playmaker. He\u2019s still a force\u2014top-five percentile in passing, take-ons, and tackles among Europe\u2019s midfielders. His masterclass against Manchester City in the Champions League, setting up a goal and running the show, showed his adaptability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Real Madrid\u2019s trophy hunt keeps Bellingham relevant, but his lower goal tally might hurt in a striker-heavy race. At 21, he\u2019s a long-term bet, a player whose all-around game echoes Rodri\u2019s winning formula. If he steps up in May\u2019s defining moments, he could leapfrog the pack. For now, he\u2019s a dark horse, simmering with potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"robert-lewandowski-the-ageless-wonder-strikes-back\">Robert Lewandowski: The Ageless Wonder Strikes Back<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/robert-lewandowski-1857\">Robert Lewandowski<\/a> laughs at Father Time. At 36, the Barcelona striker has 22 goals in La Liga and 3 in the Champions League, leading the Spanish scoring charts. His quickfire double in a 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid was a throwback to his Bayern peak, a middle finger to anyone who thought he was done. Under Flick, he\u2019s thriving, a focal point for a Bar\u00e7a side atop La Liga and in the European mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lewandowski\u2019s 2020 Ballon d\u2019Or snub\u2014when COVID canceled the award despite his treble\u2014still stings. This could be his last shot, and he\u2019s playing like it. Team success is key; if Barcelona win big, his legacy might finally get its due. He\u2019s not the flashiest, but his consistency is unmatched. The clock\u2019s ticking, but Lewandowski\u2019s not out of time yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">376 goals<br>74 assists<br><br>Robert Lewandowski is the 3rd player after Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to have 450 goal contributions in Europe&#39;s Top-5 leagues <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YptFsd4bE0\">pic.twitter.com\/YptFsd4bE0<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1901389906938671374?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 16, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pedri-the-silent-engine-of-barcelonas-revival\">Pedri: The Silent Engine of Barcelona\u2019s Revival<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/pedri-69251\">Pedri<\/a> doesn\u2019t chase headlines\u2014he creates them quietly. The 22-year-old midfielder has five goals and seven assists in 42 games, but his value transcends stats. He\u2019s Barcelona\u2019s metronome, relieving pressure, linking play, unlocking defenses. His standout shift came against Bayern in the Champions League, a 90-minute clinic in control that left Munich reeling. Under Flick, he\u2019s back to the form that made him a teenage star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Injuries once slowed him, but a healthy Pedri is world-class. If Barcelona lift La Liga or the Champions League, his role as the glue could shine through. He\u2019s not the loudest contender, but in a year where midfielders like Rodri have won, his understated brilliance might resonate. Pedri\u2019s a sleeper\u2014until he\u2019s not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Pedri: The midfield maestro. ?<br><br>The Barcelona star has won more possessions in La Liga AND across Europe\u2019s top 5 leagues than any other player. Pure class. ? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gYZdunSDM3\">pic.twitter.com\/gYZdunSDM3<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1896674378722717830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">March 3, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mohamed-salah-the-veteran-still-roarin\">Mohamed Salah: The Egyptian Is Still Roaring<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/mohamed-salah-1439\">Mohamed Salah<\/a> keeps defying the aging curve. At 32, the Liverpool forward has 32 goals and 22 assists in 43 games, driving Arne Slot\u2019s side to the Premier League summit and the Champions League quarters. His hat-trick against Tottenham in December was vintage Salah\u2014pace, precision, and a refusal to relent. With his contract ticking down, every game feels like a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Liverpool\u2019s title chase is Salah\u2019s lifeline. If they end their drought\u2014or add Europe\u2014he\u2019s got a shot. His 2022 near-miss (seventh place) showed voters respect him, but he\u2019ll need hardware to leapfrog younger stars. Salah\u2019s not done rewriting his story, and 2025 could be the perfect chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"631\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/SALAH-CITY-e1732948213603-1024x631.png\" alt=\"Liverpool's Egyptian King could be up for the Ballon d'Or\" class=\"wp-image-7756\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now, it\u2019s a toss-up. Yamal\u2019s youth and Vin\u00edcius\u2019s fire lead the pack, but Demb\u00e9l\u00e9\u2019s redemption and Kane\u2019s trophy hunt are closing in. Bellingham and Pedri offer midfield magic, while Lewandowski and Salah bring veteran grit. Team success will decide it\u2014Champions League glory or a domestic title could be the tiebreaker. With months to go, the race is fluid, thrilling, and wide open. Who\u2019s your money on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Nicky Helfgott &#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NickyHelfgott1\"><em>NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\">latest football news<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\"> Premier League news<\/a> on 365Scores!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ballon d\u2019Or race is heating up as the 2024-25 season barrels toward its climax, and this year, it\u2019s anyone\u2019s game. Without a summer international tournament to tilt the scales, club performances are the sole currency\u2014goals, assists, trophies, and those indelible moments that define legacies. Rodri\u2019s 2024 win certified the end of the Messi&#8211;Ronaldo duopoly, &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":8952,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3304,1095,179,193,1126,3305,309,586,160,1287,137,3306,719,316,823,13,60,59,189,224],"class_list":["post-8943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-ballon-dor-2025","tag-barcelona","tag-bayern-munich","tag-bundesliga","tag-champions-league","tag-football-awards","tag-harry-kane","tag-jude-bellingham","tag-la-liga","tag-lamine-yamal","tag-ligue-1","tag-liverpool-ballon-dor-history-football-transfer-rumors","tag-mohamed-salah","tag-ousmane-dembele","tag-pedri","tag-premier-league","tag-psg","tag-real-madrid","tag-robert-lewandowski","tag-vinicius-junior"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8943"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8943\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11002,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8943\/revisions\/11002"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8943"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8943"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}