The Ballon d'Or. Love it or loathe it, it's the award every footballer in the world dreams of one day winning. And now, after a memorable 2024-25 campaign, the winner of the 2025 Golden Ball has been announced: Ousmane Dembele.
The France international was widely regarded as the best player on the best team in Europe last season, with Dembele scoring 35 times during Paris Saint-Germain's historic treble triumph.
Dembele finished just ahead of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who continues to wow the world with his wondrous performances on the wing for both Barcelona and Spain, while another PSG player, Vitinha, capped a remarkable rise to prominence by taking the final spot on the podium.
That trio were up at the very top of the rankings for 2025, but how did the rest of the 30-man shortlist shake out when all the votes were counted? Check out the official rankings below:
AFP30Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Olise slotted straight in at Bayern after his summer switch from Crystal Palace. Those who had watched him at Selhurst Park were familiar with his twinkling feet and sparkling dribbling, but very few pundits predicted 43 goal involvements in his first season at the Allianz Arena. Only right, then, that such a fantastic campaign earned Ballon d'Or recognition.
AdvertisementGetty 29Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
Liverpool's big-money signing of the summer enjoyed a brilliant final year with Bayer Leverkusen, contributing 16 goals and 15 assists as the club finished second in the Bundesliga. He was injured when Bayern Munich knocked them out of the Champions League, and that feels like no coincidence.
Getty Images Sport28Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
The 34-year-old shows no signs of slowing down at Liverpool. He has signed a new contract, will be staying at Anfield for the foreseeable future, and played every game but one as the Reds lifted the Premier League trophy. Still a truly excellent defender.
Getty Images Sport27Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rice appears to be back to his very best at Arsenal. The England international stunned supporters with an incredible brace of free-kicks in the Champions League thumping of Real Madrid, but the Gunners endured disappointment in both Europe and the Premier League, ultimately ending the season trophy-less. Rice, though, can hold his head up high after an excellent campaign.
