Top Ballon d'Or 2025 Contenders

 Regarding "Who deserves the Ballon d'Or 2025?", the consensus of experts, bookies, and statistical sheets is as obvious as the nose on one's face: overall best bet is Ousmane Dembélé, with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and a couple of other phenomenal players making their own claim.

Top Ballon d'Or 2025 Contenders

1. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)

Why he leads the race: Dembélé delivered a captivating performance—scoring 33 goals and providing 15 assists in 49 matches, in addition to Champions League, Ligue 1, and domestic titles. He was also awarded the Ligue 1 Player of the Year

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Awards & Support: Various rankings put him first for power rankings

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. French media and former players like Emmanuel Petit have backed him as the favorite

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. PSG manager Luis Enrique believed in his short-term performance

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2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)

Coming-of-age campaign: At 17, Yamal bagged around 18 goals and 25 assists, helping Barcelona to win a domestic treble and shine in the Champions League

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Potential Record: Victory would have him breaking the age barrier, being the youngest Ballon d'Or winner ever

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Power ranking presence: He always finds himself among the top two contenders

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3. Raphinha (Barcelona)

Statistical giant: Raphinha impressed with about 34–35 goals and 25 assists, dominating both La Liga and the Champions League

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Pundit and AI acclaim: Second-ranked by AI picks and hailed for his critical performances in major games

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Overlap with Yamal: Both play key roles for Barça, which may divide votes and affect each other's final tallies

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4. Vitinha (PSG)

Maestro midfielder: Vitinha was a silent force, dictating PSG's play with much calmness and influence—commanding mentions as a dark horse contender

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Other Standout Contenders

Mohamed Salah (Liverpool): A phenomenal domestic campaign with 29–34 goals and 18–23 assists, leading Liverpool to a Premier League championship

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. But Liverpool's Champions League group-stage exit might dash his hopes

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Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): Unparalleled goal-scoring record, capped by a European Golden Shoe, but scarce hardware makes him a more nuanced candidate

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Verdict: Who Deserves It?

Top Candidate: Ousmane Dembélé

With elite-level consistency, dominating statistics, and key roles in PSG's record-breaking Champions League win, Dembélé's value is unquestionable. 

Dark Horse: Lamine Yamal

For raw potential, inventive genius, and masterpieces of artistry, Yamal's season is all but unheard of—though voter bias toward experience might tip towards Dembélé.

Strong Case: Raphinha

Statistically and story-wise sound, Raphinha's campaign is one of the most well-rounded and successful, but his journey could be influenced by the shadow of Yamal and Barça's continental disappointment.

In Brief:

Ousmane Dembélé is the most deserving recipient of the 2025 Ballon d'Or based on dominance, accomplishment, and reliability. Lamine Yamal presents an interesting alternative because of his fireworks-like rise, and Raphinha is a strong candidate for his excellent all-around performance.