Dembele Leads Ballon d'Or Contenders as Real Madrid Boycott Looms
Ousmane Dembele tops the field ahead of Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah, as Real Madrid reportedly abstains from the ceremony in Paris.
PARIS — Ousmane Dembele started Ballon d'Or week as the player to beat, after a season that vaulted him to the top of bookmakers’ lists for the 2025 prize. The ceremony at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris gathered the sport’s elite, with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah among the leading contenders in the men’s race. Real Madrid, who shunned the ceremony last year, were again not expected to send senior officials, though four of the club’s players were allowed to attend if they chose. Kylian Mbappé was reported to be watching from home as the night unfolded.
Dembele’s perch at the head of the market reflects his standout form for PSG in the 2024-25 campaign and his role as their key influencer in the Champions League. He arrived in Paris for the ceremony, alongside a Barcelona squad hopeful that Yamal can carry their hopes toward a first Ballon d’Or since Lionel Messi. Mbappé’s absence from the stage did not appear to dampen the room’s mood, while PSG team-mates and other favourites were in attendance or watching closely. Dembele’s readiness to take part despite an injury setback earlier this season was a talking point throughout the day. Barcelona, meanwhile, pushed Yamal as the club’s best long-term bet for the prize.
Early rankings and a running tally of the votes provided a snapshot of interest as the night began. The first men’s rankings surfaced with 30 players in the frame. Michael Olise occupied 30th, Florian Wirtz 29th, Virgil van Dijk 28th, Declan Rice 27th, Erling Haaland 26th and Denzel Dumfries 25th. Jude Bellingham was further down, listed 23rd, while others such as Serhou Guirassy, Lautaro Martínez, Joao Neves and Lewandowski sat in the mid-to-late teens and twenties as the race tightened. Scott McTominay’s finish in 18th drew noticed praise for his Napoli form, and he was joined by a spread of players from across Europe. The ranking sequence underlined the mix of established stars and rising talents in the 2024-25 season.
On the betting front, the field’s odds reflected a growing sense the winner will come from a tight group led by Dembele and Yamal. Dembele was listed as the favorite at roughly 2-7, with Yamal close behind at about 2-1. Other names in the mix included Barcelona’s Raphinha at 16/1, Mohamed Salah at 20/1, Vitinha at 20/1, Kylian Mbappé at 22/1, Gianluigi Donnarumma at 33/1 and several others who gathered momentum as the ceremony approached.
The event’s program spans multiple categories beyond the men’s Ballon d’Or. The night will also crown the Women’s Ballon d’Or, the Men’s and Women’s Kopa Trophies for young players, the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, and the top scorers’ Gerd Müller Trophy, among others. The categories underscore the breadth of the awards, which recognize achievements across the 2024/25 season.
Five members of England’s Euro-winning women’s squad, Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses, were shortlisted for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, including Leah Williamson, Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, Alessia Russo and Hannah Hampton. If any member translates that form into the ceremony, they could contend for the prize in a year when the competition is expected to be especially open.
The live blog noted that Real Madrid’s stance echoes last year’s controversy when the club publicly distanced itself from the prize ceremony after nominations were announced. In Paris, Mbappé announced plans to watch from home, while his fellow nominees — including Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham — are expected to attend if they choose. The ceremony itself is scheduled to begin at about 8 p.m. UK time, with updates continuing as the votes are tallied and the winner is revealed later in the evening.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal remains the primary younger candidate in the men’s field, with Dembele’s form and leadership at PSG giving him the edge in the eyes of several analysts. The night promises a blend of historical weight and emerging talent as the Ballon d’Or once again serves as a flashpoint for the sport’s ongoing narratives. The conclusion, with a winner and runners-up announced, will set the tone for transfer-season chatter and the next year’s campaigns around the globe.
