We’re into the defining stretch of the 2024-25 season, with trophies to be gained, European spots up for grabs and relegations to be averted. All of Europe’s home leagues and UEFA’s three membership competitions are nearing completion, which not solely prompts dialog in regards to the end-of-year awards however the subsequent Ballon d’Or too.
At its roots, the Ballon d’Or is a subjective award. Handed out each October to honour the most effective participant within the sport over the earlier 12 months, it’s determined by votes from 100 journalists, one from every of the nations within the high 100 of the FIFA world rankings. But, for each gamers and followers, it stays arguably one of the best ways to evaluate and reward particular person efficiency. Lionel Messi has essentially the most wins, with eight, adopted by Cristiano Ronaldo (5) after which Michel Platini, the late Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten on three every.
So, with round six months to go earlier than this yr’s winner is topped, right here’s a thought-about evaluation of these gamers The Athletic at the moment considers the principle contenders. We are going to replace these rankings often, so anticipate to see loads of motion as particular person type waxes and wanes over the remainder of this season and into the subsequent one.
1) Raphinha (Barcelona and Brazil)
Why’s he within the high 10? Raphinha leads La Liga gamers in purpose contributions throughout all membership competitions with 28 targets and 20 assists in his 45 video games. Few may have foreseen the Brazilian having a season of this nature when he was battling relegation from the Premier League with Leeds United this time three years in the past, but when Barcelona go on to finish a historic treble, few would argue towards him receiving the Ballon d’Or in October.
This week Raphinha needed to accept a half-hour look off the bench in a 1-1 residence draw towards Actual Betis final Saturday, together with his minutes being fastidiously managed since he returned from worldwide obligation in South America final month. Restored to the beginning XI for the go to of Borussia Dortmund within the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday, Raphinha scored the sport’s opening purpose from about two inches out earlier than helping each Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal as Barcelona gained 4-0. He’s now as much as a membership document 19 purpose contributions within the Champions League this season, matching Lionel Messi’s career-best tally from 2011-12.
Up subsequent Barcelona return to home motion on Saturday away at Leganes with revenge on their thoughts after dropping 1-0 to the relegation-threatened aspect in December and with Raphinha on the hunt for simply his third La Liga purpose of 2025. That’s adopted by a go to to Dortmund’s Sign Iduna Park on Tuesday for what appears to be like like a dead-rubber of a second leg.
2) Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain and France)
Why’s he within the high 10? After displaying flashes of brilliance for years, Dembele has lastly added consistency to his sport this season. He has 32 targets in 41 membership appearances, together with 21 in 19 for the reason that flip of the yr (to go along with scoring for France towards Croatia final month too). Turning 28 subsequent month, Dembele is without doubt one of the senior gamers in PSG’s youth-infused undertaking beneath Luis Enrique, which is lastly taking off, with the group in rivalry for a treble, together with a Ligue 1 marketing campaign the place they’re but to lose after 28 of the 34 matches.
This week Dembele got here off the bench for the ultimate half-hour of PSG’s title-clinching win towards Angers on Saturday earlier than dazzling within the 3-1 defeat of holiday makers Aston Villa 4 days later within the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final. He topped a powerful show by helping Nuno Mendes for a doubtlessly pivotal third purpose in stoppage time.
Up subsequent PSG don’t have any match this weekend, so don’t play once more till the return leg towards Villa on Tuesday. With the house aspect needing to assault to claw again that two-goal deficit, Dembele ought to discover loads of alternatives on the counter.
Dembele underlined his Ballon d’Or credentials as soon as extra towards Villa (Franck Fife/AFP through Getty Photographs)
3) Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)
Why’s he within the high 10? The cult of Yamal appears to develop each week as he reveals off new expertise whereas enhancing on these we’ve already seen. No matter he touches appears to show to gold. He has a document of 14 targets and 17 assists for Barcelona this season, to go along with a luxurious purpose for Spain of their Nations League quarter-finals win over the Netherlands in March.
This week Yamal reduce a pissed off determine final weekend towards Betis, with some rarely-seen heavy touches and misplaced passes as Barca tried to interrupt by way of a disciplined defence. Nevertheless it was studying expertise for him, and he proceeded to toy with Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini in midweek earlier than scoring the sport’s closing purpose with an impudent toe-poke.
Up subsequent Yamal shall be key if Barcelona are to proceed their La Liga title cost at Leganes — the second leg towards Dortmund a couple of days later is now a mere formality with that four-goal lead.
Yamal had one other excellent sport within the Champions League on Wednesday (Pedro Salado/Getty Photographs)
4) Harry Kane (Bayern Munich and England)
Why’s he within the high 10? The Bundesliga is proving far too simple for Kane. Having scored 36 league targets in his 2023-24 debut season after a transfer from the Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur, he’s on 23 this time, serving to put Bayern six factors clear on the high with six video games to go after surprisingly dropping the title to Bayer Leverkusen a yr in the past. Vincent Kompany’s aspect are additionally within the final eight of the Champions League, the place Kane has 10 targets in his 12 appearances. He additionally scored twice for England of their March double-header.
This week Kane scored Bayern’s go-ahead purpose in a 3-1 win towards Augsburg final Friday, heading residence from Michael Olise’s Sixtieth-minute cross. He struggled on Tuesday towards guests Inter within the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, although, hitting the submit within the first half from his finest probability as Bayern misplaced 2-1.
Kane scoring towards Augsburg final weekend (Sebastian Widmann/Getty Photographs)
Up subsequent Kane and Co are at residence on Saturday towards Dortmund, who he has scored seven targets towards in seven video games for Spurs and now Bayern. Whereas Der Klassiker is normally an A-list fixture, their focus will undoubtedly be extra on turning the Inter tie round at San Siro on Wednesday than home issues.
5) Kylian Mbappe (Actual Madrid and France)
Why’s he within the high 10? Mbappe is approaching the tip of the most effective debut seasons ever by a Madrid ahead, with 32 targets in 47 video games throughout all competitions regardless of some rising pains early on. As he has discovered his ft, the Frenchman has overtaken Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham because the talisman of the group.
This week Final weekend noticed a humbling for the La Liga champions as Valencia beat them on the Bernabeu for the primary time in 17 years. Mbappe toiled with minimal luck towards goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili as Madrid fell 4 factors behind leaders Barcelona with eight video games to go. If that 2-1 defeat was a shock to the system, Tuesday introduced full-fledged electrocution as Arsenal thrashed Madrid 3-0 on the Emirates Stadium within the first leg of a quarter-final to go away their hopes of back-to-back Champions League titles dangling by a thread. Mbappe missed two presentable possibilities within the first half earlier than being shut out for a lot of the second.
Up subsequent A visit north to Alaves, who’re preventing relegation from La Liga, on Sunday might be the perfect match to both return to type or deepen the sense of disaster at Madrid. That shall be adopted by Wednesday’s return leg towards Arsenal, a fixture which would require Mbappe to channel his interior 2021-22 Karim Benzema.
Mbappe endured a tough night time in north London on Tuesday (Justin Setterfield/Getty Photographs)
6) Mohamed Salah (Liverpool and Egypt)
Why’s he within the high 10? When your statistics are being in comparison with these of Messi and Ronaldo, it’s a sign you’re having an all-timer of a season. Salah has gone off the boil reasonably previously month however nonetheless has 44 purpose contributions (27 targets and 17 assists) within the Premier League alone, with Liverpool wanting primed to win the title. There shall be no different trophies for them in 2024-25, however that is undoubtedly one of many biggest particular person seasons performed out on English turf.
This week Liverpool suffered a uncommon league defeat on Sunday, crushed 3-2 at Fulham in a match the place Salah was saved quiet for the second time in every week after the 1-0 derby win towards Everton. He ended the week rather more brightly, although, with affirmation of a brand new two-year contract.
Up subsequent Liverpool host West Ham United on Sunday and should have an opportunity to increase their lead on the high of the desk if Arsenal rotate gamers for his or her residence match towards Brentford the earlier night. Salah is due a bounce-back sport having not scored a non-penalty purpose within the league since February 23 and Sixteenth-placed West Ham current the perfect alternative for him to chop free.
7) Alessandro Bastoni (Inter and Italy)
Why’s he within the high 10? Bastoni has been a close to ever-present for treble-chasing Inter, racking up 3,193 minutes throughout competitions, essentially the most by any of their outfield participant. Along with his defensive prowess, he averages the second-most cross makes an attempt per 90 minutes (76.6) amongst all Serie A centre-backs this season.
This week Bastoni performed solely the primary half away at struggling Parma final Saturday as a precaution due to a knee subject. Inter had been 2-0 up on the break however conceded twice in 9 minutes with out him to attract the sport. He then performed the total 90 at Bayern within the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Tuesday, serving to his group to a powerful 2-1 win.
Up subsequent Bastoni and Inter will look to increase their three-point lead in Serie A once they entertain Fifteenth-placed Cagliari on Saturday earlier than the rematch with Bayern, additionally at San Siro, on Wednesday.
8) Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona and Poland)
Why’s he within the high 10? After going through questions over his Barcelona future on the finish of final season, the 36-year-old Lewandowski has spearheaded their treble cost on this one. He’s the one participant in Europe’s high 5 leagues to get to 40 targets throughout all competitions and has a barely plausible 123 occasions in 116 matches beneath Hansi Flick over three seasons with Bayern and now Barca.
This week Lewandowski, like his attacking companions, struggled in that 1-1 draw with Betis however got here to the fore in midweek towards Dortmund, one other of his former golf equipment. He scored with a close-range header to make it 2-0, then powered residence Barcelona’s third as they put one foot and a few toes within the Champions League semi-finals.
Up subsequent Leganes are considered one of simply three groups Lewandowski has confronted in La Liga with out scoring (though in his defence, he’s solely performed towards them as soon as), a document he’ll wish to change on Saturday. A relaxation may do him good too, although, if Flick decides he desires him recent for the journey to Dortmund.
Lewandowski is considered one of three Barcelona forwards in our high 10 at the moment (Lluis Gene/AFP through Getty Photographs)
9) Pedri (Barcelona and Spain)
Why’s he within the high 10? The entrance three understandably take the headlines however most of Barcelona’s good play stems from Pedri, their midfield engine. His first fully-fit season since 2019-20 has delivered one good efficiency after the opposite for Barca and Spain with glorious passes, continuous working, defensive interventions — and the occasional purpose, too.
This week Pedri was one other restricted by Betis’ system however discovered extra pleasure towards Dortmund’s inexperienced midfield.
Up subsequent In contrast to his attacking team-mates, who may get a relaxation, you’re virtually assured to see Pedri begin towards each Leganes and Dortmund.
10) Jude Bellingham (Actual Madrid and England)
Why’s he within the high 10? Bellingham has struggled with inconsistency in comparison with his 2023-24 debut season with Madrid however nonetheless has 11 targets and 10 assists from midfield in 36 matches throughout La Liga and the Champions League. Madrid have struggled with their stability and their assault’s finest moments have come when Bellingham has pulled the strings and made his signature late runs into the field.
This week Bellingham assisted Vinicius Jr’s equaliser towards Valencia, and created two nice openings within the first half towards Arsenal earlier than fading after the break.
Up subsequent Alaves have been considered one of Bellingham’s favorite opponents — he has a purpose and three assists from his three matches towards them — however Madrid want him at his very best for the Arsenal sport in midweek as they goal to conjure one other Bernabeu miracle.
(Images: Getty Photographs; design: Eamonn Dalton)