The race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or is set to be fascinating in the coming weeks with Barcelona and PSG dominating the shortlist.
On the back of winning a treble in his debut season at Barcelona, Hansi Flick’s side are heavily represented, with Lamine Yamal backed as their best hope.
PSG went one better, and secured a first-ever UEFA Champions League crown, and Ousmane Dembele leads the charge for Luis Enrique’s side.
Despite ending the season without a trophy, Kylian Mbappe shone for Real Madrid in 2024/25, and he is the sole Los Blancos representative.
His final tally for the campaign ended on 31 La Liga goals and 44 in all competitions from 59 appearances.
The France international is expected to be in the top five, alongside Raphinha, Pedri and potentially Robert Lewandowski, but a run for the No.1 spot looks unlikely.
His best finish remains as third from 2023, being Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi, as the latter scooped his eighth win.
Despite the odds being against him, former Real Madrid striker – and 2001 winner – Michael Owen, believes he is the best player on the planet right now.
“For me, he’s the best player in the world right now,” Owen told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.
“He can take a game away from someone.
“He’s got the ability to embarrass you. If he gets you out wide, a bit of skill, his touch, his pace, he can finish, he can take a game away.”
Owen became just the fourth English player to win the award – and the last one to lift it – after a sensational start to life at Liverpool.
After scoring a superb 158 goals in 297 games at Anfield he made the move to Madrid in 2004 -scoring 16 goals in his single campaign in Spain – before making the move back to England with Newcastle United.
Sturzino
0
mbappe at this age is better than yamal
bamenprtu
0
His the best actually
meubdemo
0
You must have left your brain on the road please pick it up 😂
👍😂😂😂
jasbdeksy
0
but he should not be in the conversation at all if Salah is not in it and he won premier league. seriously Owen .
PrimeGeorge07
0
He would have won it if he's at pSG
They wouldn’t have won it because of him .
PSGFFL
0
When Mbappe was 18 I said he’ll never win Ballon d’or They called me a madman. He’s almost 27 and still hasn’t won. The likes of Palmer, Pedri, Yamal, Isak could win, but Mbappe would never
Forget ballon d'or. Even you know he is the best player in the world. But of course you won't admit it.
Suarezzy
0
You must have left your brain on the road please pick it up 😂
your girlfriend is with it 😉
AFerxXJr6834
0
so say by your ancestors
Mbappe’s game is more based on his pace At age 34 he surely won’t have the same legs and engine We’ll see how he’ll be doing at age 34. Stupid fool
jebiklmotu
0
Pain goes to Barcelona they are always against him but he always proved them wrong and shows them the world he is the best player right now Owen is very right Mbape is the best player and the face of football right now
mbappe was in Madrid team Barcelona embarrassed last season
Badhur
2
Shut up Owen
Badhur
1
I think this snake Owen is blind or out of his mind … Mbappé my arse
Yooiklnz
3
He would have won it if he's at pSG
FlashyboiDYan
0
Hahahaha
what is funny in that saying? he's been in the race for a long period of time, even Benzema was 34 yrs old when he won his ballon d'or and it's obvious that NO ONE can match his level now bro you like it or not.fact bro
FlashyboiDYan
0
When Mbappe was 18 I said he’ll never win Ballon d’or They called me a madman. He’s almost 27 and still hasn’t won. The likes of Palmer, Pedri, Yamal, Isak could win, but Mbappe would never
so say by your ancestors
Heaabdkms
4
if truly about an individual as a yardstick, Owen was right... no one else is hotter than Mbappe right now. He has pocketed the 2024 golden leg, Vini.... but everything in life is about legging up, foul play, robbery... Mbappe won't win it, plus he left d PSG where connection with d award plays a huge role in France
AFerusmc6546
0
Pain goes to Barcelona they are always against him but he always proved them wrong and shows them the world he is the best player right now Owen is very right Mbape is the best player and the face of football right now
Mumu must always b one
AFerusmc6546
0
Yamal did nothing at the beginning of 2025 season even it was Rafina who rescued Barcelona Yamal just performed at the end of the season and he got over hyped by you Barcelona fun
Mumu yamal perform from start too end mumu who assisted n scored in Santiago ur dad, who assisted against Munich ur pa mumu idiot
AFerusmc6546
0
Yamal did nothing at the beginning of 2025 season even it was Rafina who rescued Barcelona Yamal just performed at the end of the season and he got over hyped by you Barcelona fun
Cry cry mumu no de watch game without yamal rafa won’t do shit
AFerusmc6546
0
Mbape deserves the Ballon d’Or the or this hype players as it was said this year Ballon d’ Or is going to be in criteria award and no one deserves than Mbape
Deserver carry am go give am na
AFerxXJr6834
0
You still sound like a madman bro
Well you’re incredibly stupid cos he’s yet to win, which I’m sure he never will. Cos Madrid won’t become strong enough anytime soon
boydilms
0
When Mbappe was 18 I said he’ll never win Ballon d’or They called me a madman. He’s almost 27 and still hasn’t won. The likes of Palmer, Pedri, Yamal, Isak could win, but Mbappe would never
You will soon be a mad man don’t worry 😂
boydilms
1
nice dream , someone arsenal of all team embarrassed keep on dreaming, he can't do anything without star studded team at the moment because they are feeding him to score you can't compare him with lamal, lamal had more assist ,created more chances and had more dribbles than him , infact lamal dribble alone in la liga was better than mbape's both champions League and league combined together Owen can go and eat the mud mbape is clearly not in the race and who ever vote for him is clearly a Madrid fan or a man u fan
You must have left your brain on the road please pick it up 😂
Pepclrtyz
0
🤣🤣🤣
Suarezzy
0
Pain goes to Barcelona they are always against him but he always proved them wrong and shows them the world he is the best player right now Owen is very right Mbape is the best player and the face of football right now
still he is not in the race for balon dor no need to waste your time
suhacdiosu
0
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
suhacdiosu
0
Mbape deserves the Ballon d’Or the or this hype players as it was said this year Ballon d’ Or is going to be in criteria award and no one deserves than Mbape
yieadilotu
0
yes
suhacdiosu
0
Yamal did nothing at the beginning of 2025 season even it was Rafina who rescued Barcelona Yamal just performed at the end of the season and he got over hyped by you Barcelona fun
suhacdiosu
0
Pain goes to Barcelona they are always against him but he always proved them wrong and shows them the world he is the best player right now Owen is very right Mbape is the best player and the face of football right now
bamadiloty
0
Didn’t start campaigning for runbish
Brighton29
1
When Mbappe was 18 I said he’ll never win Ballon d’or They called me a madman. He’s almost 27 and still hasn’t won. The likes of Palmer, Pedri, Yamal, Isak could win, but Mbappe would never
You still sound like a madman bro
Eyalaw
0
When Mbappe was 18 I said he’ll never win Ballon d’or They called me a madman. He’s almost 27 and still hasn’t won. The likes of Palmer, Pedri, Yamal, Isak could win, but Mbappe would never
Okay prophet
haryad9911
0
[image]
yes
haryad9911
0
[image]
haryad9911
1
AFerxXJr6834
2
When Mbappe was 18 I said he’ll never win Ballon d’or They called me a madman. He’s almost 27 and still hasn’t won. The likes of Palmer, Pedri, Yamal, Isak could win, but Mbappe would never
Faocdmoty
0
Go win it kyky
Jozcenry
0
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nchim
0
he will definitely win it
He will but obviously not the next one😏
immj97
3
It has to be Dembele by all means... no one else makes sense... If Mbappe didn't win it after that tremendous WC performance, then how can it be now.
Abdul0fficer
0
having 44 goals in all competitions without trophy,he is amongst the ballon d or contenders.oh GOD I miss Messi and Ronaldo Era those 2 is absolutely beasts. their numbers is out of this world.no wonder they're top of the world top goalscorer
mihbikmyz
1
hello
Tudackotuy
2
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Jotadistz
1
mbappe is a game changer right now. Very HOT.
joweioptuz
0
he has to win the champions League as the best player first😅
he will definitely win it
Nchim
0
Definitely, after this Ballon d'Or, the next for him.🙏
he has to win the champions League as the best player first😅
Nchim
1
😂🤣
Suddemouyz
3
Yamala to Replace Messi and Mbappe to replace Ronaldo 🔥🔥🔥
joweioptuz
4
Definitely, after this Ballon d'Or, the next for him.🙏
SirVanraj
0
Hahahaha