Ballon d’Or 2025: PSG star favourite for award as French giants dominate top 10 and just one Premier League ace in mix

THE 2024-25 season is in the books – and it’s fair to say it didn’t quite follow the script.

And now the Ballon d’Or is set to follow suit.

PSG’s Champions League win sees a hatful of their stars go into the running for a Ballon d’Or titleCredit: AFP

Liverpool won the Premier League after a sensational season, but do any Reds make it into our top ten?Credit: GettyIf someone told you Liverpool would win the Premier League in their “rebuild” year under Arne Slot, few would have believed you.

And then there’s Paris Saint-Germain finally winning the Champions League AFTER getting rid of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

Tottenham booked a Champions League spot by winning the Europa League – ending their 17-year trophy drought – despite finishing 17th in the Prem with a barely-believable 38 points.

Crystal Palace won their first-ever trophy, while Newcastle ended their 70-year wait for a major crown with Carabao Cup glory.

So it only seems right that there will be a new Ballon d’Or winner in 2025.

The Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly has completely crumbled in the last year or so, with Rodri clinching the 2024 award.

But with the Spaniard out for much of the season injured and playing for a wildly sub-par Manchester City, he’s completely out of the running.

So 2025 will see a first win for one of SunSport’s top ten.

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Spoiler alert, PSG stars feature heavily, with just one Premier League star making the list…

10. Pedri – BarcelonaThe Nou Camp giants had a season to remember and appear to be well on their way to getting back to their best after a few difficult seasons, particularly in the Champions League.

No longer THE wonderkid in the Barca team, Pedri, 22, has lost that title to 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who many consider to be the heir to Lionel Messi’s throne.

But the midfielder has quietly gone about his business, racking up four goals and five assists in 37 LaLiga games en route to the title, missing just one match.

He also played in all 14 Champions League matches – culminating in the epic 7-6 aggregate loss to Inter Milan, arguably the greatest-ever two-legged Champions League tie.

Pedri has been quietly superb in the Barcelona midfieldCredit: Shutterstock Editorial9. Kylian Mbappe – Real MadridA season of frustration for the French superstar.

Mbappe, 26, quit PSG to end their ‘Galacticos’ era once and for all… with his old side immediately going on to win the one trophy that had always evaded them: the Champions League.

Los Blancos finished second in LaLiga behind old rivals Barcelona, while losing both the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana finals.

They made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, before losing to Arsenal.

On a personal level, Mbappe recovered from a slow start to show signs of his best form, scoring 43 goals across all competitions, including a hat-trick in the 3-1 win over Man City.

Mbappe endured a tough season trophy-wise, but was in red-hot form in front of goalCredit: EPA8. Lautaro Martinez – Inter MilanA real ‘nearly’ season for Inter Milan, it was a difficult one for fans – and the club itself – to process.

On the one hand, they exceeded expectations. But, on the other, they were so close, yet so far – second in Serie A, runners up in the Champions League and Supercoppa Italiana and semi-finalists in the Coppa Italia.

Captain Martinez, 27, was the club’s top scorer with 22 goals in all competitions – crucially including nine strikes in his 14 Champions League appearances, a huge factor in their fairytale run to the final.

Lautaro Martinez was the ultimate leader for Inter Milan in their impressive seasonCredit: Reuters7. Gianluigi Donnarumma – PSGThe first entrant to our top 10 from the Paris giants and Champions League winners is the man between the sticks.

The 6ft 5in Italian giant, 26, played in all 15 Champions League matches.

And his heroic performances between the sticks were a key cog in the long-suffering club finally ending their European Cup drought – particularly in the semi-final win over Arsenal.

After years of solid performances, the former AC Milan stopper appears to be finally living up to his potential as one of the best on the planet and arguably the best European goalkeepers.

Gianluigi Donnarumma was a giant between the sticks for PSGCredit: AP6. Desire Doue – PSGA relative unknown among casual fans before this season, Doue has been an absolute revelation.

The young winger, 19, played in 16 Champions League matches this season, scoring five times – including TWO in the final to kill off the game.

Inevitably, talk has quickly moved to a “new Messi-Ronaldo” rivalry between Doue and Yamal.

It might be a bit early for that, but both are certainly in the hunt for this season’s Ballon d’Or after scintillating seasons.

Desire Doue has been a revelation on the PSG wing this seasonCredit: Reuters5. Khvicha KvaratskheliaWhat a year for the Georgian star…

The 24-year-old was part of the Napoli squad who won the Serie A title until January, when he moved to a PSG side who won the Ligue 1, Champions League, Coupe de France and Trophee des Champions quadruple.

Domestic trophies are no new thing for PSG and 2024-25 will forever be remembered as the season they won their first-ever Champions League.

Kvaratskhelia played a vital role in that, playing in nine Champions League matches since January alone, contributing to five goals en route to glory, including his strike in the final.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia enjoyed a superb season… at both Napoli and then PSGCredit: Shutterstock Editorial4. Raphinha – BarcelonaAt one stage, the former Leeds man looked like he was going to shatter Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League record.

Despite falling short, the Brazilian winger, 28, contributed to 21 GOALS in just 14 Champions League games.

Raphinha was also involved in 27 goals in 36 LaLiga games as Barcelona won the title.

It was some season for the winger, who was the top favourite for the Ballon d’Or not long ago.

Raphinha enjoyed easily the best season of his careerCredit: Shutterstock Editorial3. Mo Salah – LiverpoolA truly sensational season for the Egyptian superstar.

Salah, 32, was on track to obliterate the Premier League scoring record, before his hot streak cooled late on.

Despite that, the winger contributed to 47 Premier League goals as Liverpool won their record-levelling 20th top-flight crown.

He won the Golden Boot with 29 goals – meaning he’s now won it a joint-record FOUR times.

Salah also contributed to seven goals in nine Champions League games, as the Reds won the first-ever 32-team group stage and reached the quarter-finals before losing to eventual champions, PSG.

Mo Salah enjoyed one of his best LIverpool seasons en route to the title and celebrated by signing a new contractCredit: PA2. Lamine Yamal – BarcelonaWe’ve heard the term “Messi regen” before… with Ansu Fati.

And while that perhaps hasn’t quite panned out, it’s impossible to think Yamal isn’t destined for superstardom.

Aged just 17, Yamal was involved in 22 LaLiga goals in 35 outings as Barcelona won the title, with a further eight involvements in the Champions League.

He’s the youngest player to reach 100 competitive games for Barcelona and at this rate he could shatter a whole array of records before his career is done.

Brazil legend Ronaldo currently holds the record for youngest-ever Ballon d’Or winner, aged 21 in 1997.

Before that, George Best was the youngest at the age of 29.

If Yamal does win it this year, he’ll set a record that will likely never be broken.

Either way, you certainly wouldn’t bet against him breaking the record in the next few seasons…

Fans reckon Lamine Yamal is destined to be the second coming of Lionel MessiCredit: Reuters1. Ousmane Dembele – PSGIn Mbappe’s absence, PSG were always going to rely on his fellow Frenchman to step up and be the attacking leader.

And while the addition of Kvaratskhelia and emergence of Doue has been a massive boost, Dembele is unquestionably the No1 threat in Luis Enrique’s team.

Dembele was involved in 14 goals in 15 Champions League games en route to an historic title, while he scored 21 times in 29 Ligue 1 matches, with a further six assists.

In all, the forward scored 33 goals in his side’s quadruple campaign – and puts him in pole position for the Ballon d’Or… for now.

Ousmane Dembele stepped up as leader of the PSG attack in some style after Mbappe’s exitCredit: Reuters