Ballon d’Or 2025: Full Results, African Contenders, and What Comes Next
Why Ballon d’Or 2025 Mattered Globally
The Ballon d’Or 2025 was more than a prize for a big star. It was a story of a comeback, new names, and how much Africa adds to the game. Ousmane Dembélé took home top honours. Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, and Serhou Guirassy made sure Africa was present..
For quite a few, this edition felt a bit ‘different’. With Messi and Ronaldo out of the competition, the prize shows the game is now more open.
Ousmane Dembélé’s Winning Season
Ousmane Dembélé’s career has had difficulties. However, in 2025, it all came good. He left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain. There, he found good form, he led the team, and he did great work.
- 35 goals, 16 assists in all games
- A key part of PSG’s big win of historic treble: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League
- 8 goals in the Champions League, with key goals in the big games.
When PSG beat Inter 5–0, it was clear Dembélé was not just part of the team. He was its core. Kylian Mbappé was gone. He led the attack. He at last gave PSG the Champions League win they had longed for.
His win put him with Zidane, Platini, and Benzema, Frenchmen who have won the Ballon d’Or.
Ballon d’Or 2025 Shortlist
Full List of 30 players in contention:
- Ousmane Dembélé (France, PSG)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
- Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
- Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG)
- Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
- Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, PSG)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal, PSG)
- Pedri (Spain, Barcelona)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, PSG)
- Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
- Désiré Doué (France, PSG)
- Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden, Sporting/Arsenal)
- Vinícius Júnior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
- Robert Lewandowski (Poland, Barcelona)
- Scott McTominay (Scotland, Napoli)
- João Neves (Portugal, PSG)
- Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter Milan)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, Dortmund)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina, Liverpool)
- Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
- Fabián Ruiz (Spain, PSG)
- Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands, Inter Milan)
- Erling Haaland (Norway, Man City)
- Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
- Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands, Liverpool)
- Florian Wirtz (Germany, Leverkusen/Liverpool)
- Michael Olise (France/England, Bayern Munich)
The combination of youth and experience is what stood out, with 18-year-old Lamine Yamal right on Dembélé’s tail and Cole Palmer knocking into the top ten.
African Players Who Shone
Mohamed Salah’s Top-4 Finish
Mohamed Salah finished 4th and many would say he deserved even more. He turned in a historic Premier league season at 32 years old:
- 29 goals, 18 assists
- Guided Liverpool to another league title
- Equaled the record for 47 goal involvements in one campaign
Liverpool fans called it a Ballon d’Or-worthy season. Critics said being in the Premier League, where the last winner dates back to 2008, makes the mountain harder to climb.
Achraf Hakimi’s Case for Defenders
Hakimi finished 6th, possibly ranking highest among defenders in a long time. His statistics were astounding for a right back:
- 11 goals, 16 assists
- Scored in every Champions League round from quarters to the final
- Broke Dani Alves’ European record for defender contributions
Hakimi openly stated he believed he deserved the trophy. While bold, his numbers justified the confidence.
Serhou Guirassy’s Rise
Serhou Guirassy wasn’t a household name before 2025, but his Dortmund heroics changed that.
- 44 goals in all competitions
- Champions League leading goal scorer with 13 goals
- First African with 13 goals in a single UCL season
His finish of 21st was underwhelming due to so much importance, but for Guinea he became the pride of a country that represents success.
The Osimhen Snub
Victor Osimhen’s absence was shocking. After moving to Galatasaray, he:
- Won the Golden Boot in Turkey
- Scored 37 goals in total
- Set records as the most prolific foreign striker in Turkish football
However, he did not make the final 30. Nigerian press ridiculed the move suggesting smaller leagues should not affect world-class stats of performance:
Other Snubs
- Sadio Mané (Senegal): Stopped being relevant after moving to Saudi Arabia.
- Riyad Mahrez (Algeria): Same fate after departing Europe.
This has led to ongoing discussions over whether playing outside of the top five leagues in Europe impacts on Ballon d’Or chances no matter the outputs.
Africa’s Ballon d’Or History: From Weah to Now
The only African player to win a Ballon d’Or is George Weah in 1995 – and since then there have been some that have been very close:
- Sadio Mané – 2nd in 2022
- Mohamed Salah (2019, 2022, 2025) – multiple top 5 finisher as of 2025
- Didier Drogba – 4th in 2007
- Samuel Eto’o, 5th in 2005
- Riyad Mahrez, 7th in 2016
- Victor Osimhen, 8th in 2023
These results indicate that African footballers can reach a high standard of notoriety, but how difficult it can be to actually win.
Global and African Media Reactions
- Liverpool pundits: Furious at Salah’s 4th place. Many argued his numbers rivaled Dembélé’s.
- Moroccan outlets: Praised Hakimi’s case, insisting defenders deserve more credit.
- Nigerian media: Outraged by Osimhen’s omission, calling it “a glaring oversight.”
- Neutral experts: Pointed out how rare it is to see two Africans in the top ten.
On social media, African fans celebrated the recognition but also reignited debates about bias in Ballon d’Or voting.
Ballon d’Or Voting Explained
The award considers three things:
- Individual performance (goals, assists, records)
- Team trophies (domestic and continental)
- Influence on games and overall impact
This balance explains why Dembélé’s treble pushed him ahead of Salah, Hakimi, and even Lamine Yamal.
Who Could Shine in 2026?
- Lamine Yamal looks destined for future Ballons d’Or.
- Salah and Hakimi will aim to go one step further.
- Osimhen may need to move back to one of Europe’s top five leagues to get noticed again.
- PSG’s dominance could produce another winner, but Madrid’s young stars will push hard.