Ballon d'Or 2025

[Winston Biscuit]

I don't know why i have an interest in this. I feel I shouldn't as the noise around it has come to represent the modern day football stuff i am not keen on. but for some reason each year i have an interest in it. anyway...

Prize awarded on Monday.

current bookies favourite to win:

1. Ousmane Dembele
2. Lamine Yamal
3. Vitinha
4. Mo Salah
5. Raphinha

[Winston Biscuit]

and here is Stanley Matthews receiving the first ever one given out

[Sutekh]

and here is Stanley Matthews receiving the first ever one given out

Is that the women’s winner in between them?

[Sutekh]

I don't know why i have an interest in this. I feel I shouldn't as the noise around it has come to represent the modern day football stuff i am not keen on. but for some reason each year i have an interest in it. anyway...

Prize awarded on Monday.

current bookies favourite to win:

1. Ousmane Dembele
2. Lamine Yamal
3. Vitinha
4. Mo Salah
5. Raphinha

It’s never ever going to be Mo Salah, so Ousmane Dembele this time.

[Pepe the Horseman]

I don't know why i have an interest in this. I feel I shouldn't as the noise around it has come to represent the modern day football stuff i am not keen on. but for some reason each year i have an interest in it. anyway...

Prize awarded on Monday.

current bookies favourite to win:

1. Ousmane Dembele
2. Lamine Yamal
3. Vitinha
4. Mo Salah
5. Raphinha

Dembele will be the least deserving winner ever imo, but kind of highlights how good a "team" PSG have. I'd say Hakimi has been their star player, but obvs not on the list.

[Winston Biscuit]

I remember Modric winning being a surprise to everyone, but also everyone was so bored of Ronaldo and Messi winning that the next best after them getting high praise was seen as a nice relief

[Pepe the Horseman]

I remember Modric winning being a surprise to everyone, but also everyone was so bored of Ronaldo and Messi winning that the next best after them getting high praise was seen as a nice relief

How's it decided? Is there a chance of a complete surprise or is it pretty much guaranteed to be one of the 5 listed?

[Sutekh]

I remember Modric winning being a surprise to everyone, but also everyone was so bored of Ronaldo and Messi winning that the next best after them getting high praise was seen as a nice relief

How's it decided? Is there a chance of a complete surprise or is it pretty much guaranteed to be one of the 5 listed?

Key football writers/journalists around Europe get to vote and Ronaldo or Messi win.

[Winston Biscuit]

I remember Modric winning being a surprise to everyone, but also everyone was so bored of Ronaldo and Messi winning that the next best after them getting high praise was seen as a nice relief

How's it decided? Is there a chance of a complete surprise or is it pretty much guaranteed to be one of the 5 listed?

Key football writers/journalists around Europe get to vote and Ronaldo or Messi win.

Funnily enough I was just listening to a podcast and the journalists were talking about the voting and how much lobbying goes on from players and clubs, and one of them mentioned that Henry Winter (former Telegraph and Times) had the British journalist vote

They also mentioned this story where an Australian journalist was contacted by an Indian company acting for Dembele where they were basically offering money for his vote and help influencing others
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6620268/2025/09/15/ballon-dor-ousmane-dembele-campaign/

[Winston Biscuit]

Having someone win the Balon d'Or is a lucrative business. Its a nice bonus for the club in their sponsorship contracts

I remember reading years ago on how much of a big campaign it is for Barcelona & Real Madrid to get one of their players to win. They have agencies working for them solely to try and win votes for their players.

[Clyde1998]

How's it decided? Is there a chance of a complete surprise or is it pretty much guaranteed to be one of the 5 listed?

Key football writers/journalists around Europe get to vote and Ronaldo or Messi win.

Funnily enough I was just listening to a podcast and the journalists were talking about the voting and how much lobbying goes on from players and clubs, and one of them mentioned that Henry Winter (former Telegraph and Times) had the British journalist vote

They also mentioned this story where an Australian journalist was contacted by an Indian company acting for Dembele where they were basically offering money for his vote and help influencing others
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6620268/2025/09/15/ballon-dor-ousmane-dembele-campaign/

It's nothing more than a marketing stunt for this reason. People are giving it way too much attention and putting way too much importance into it.

[Orion1871]

I don't know why i have an interest in this. I feel I shouldn't as the noise around it has come to represent the modern day football stuff i am not keen on. but for some reason each year i have an interest in it. anyway...

Prize awarded on Monday.

current bookies favourite to win:

1. Ousmane Dembele
2. Lamine Yamal
3. Vitinha
4. Mo Salah
5. Raphinha

Dembele will be the least deserving winner ever imo, but kind of highlights how good a "team" PSG have. I'd say Hakimi has been their star player, but obvs not on the list.

Not whilst Rodri, Michael Owen and Messi winning ahead of Lewandowski exist.

[BRO_BOT]

Having someone win the Balon d'Or is a lucrative business. Its a nice bonus for the club in their sponsorship contracts

I remember reading years ago on how much of a big campaign it is for Barcelona & Real Madrid to get one of their players to win. They have agencies working for them solely to try and win votes for their players.

The Camorra clans have united to push McTominay into the big time