With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup now concluded, the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or has entered its most intriguing and unpredictable phase. What once seemed like a clear battle between household names has suddenly shifted—Kylian Mbappe has suffered a significant drop, and a surprise name has emerged among the top three contenders. Meanwhile, fans are also asking: where do young sensation Lamine Yamal and PSG’s dynamic winger Ousmane Dembele stand?
The updated rankings from TNT Sports have stirred debate across the soccer world. With the Ballon d’Or ceremony scheduled for September 22, 2025, at Paris’ Theatre du Chatelet, attention is sharply focused on the final list of nominees, which will be announced on August 7. This year’s award is the fourth in a new format that tracks performance by season, not calendar year, covering August 2024 to July 2025.
The FIFA Club World Cup, held in the United States, acted as the final major showcase before the voting began. For many top stars, it was a chance to either cement their status—or see their candidacy unravel.
“The performances on U.S. soil didn’t just crown new champions—they also shook up the list of favorites,” noted TNT Sports.
The competition’s global stage offered some contenders one last opportunity to impress. For others, it exposed vulnerabilities that voters may now weigh heavily.
Updated Ballon d’Or 2025 rankings: New frontrunner emerges
Now, with TNT Sports’ latest rankings in hand, the picture has become clearer:
- A new name now leads the list.
- Kylian Mbappe, once viewed as a top favorite after his move to Real Madrid, has dropped significantly.
- A player not previously in the top 10 has catapulted into the top three after a stunning Club World Cup campaign.
So, who’s at the top?
The top contenders revealed
According to TNT Sports, the current top five are:
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
The 18-year-old winger is rewriting history. With 18 goals and 21 assists for club and country, he’s led Barcelona to a domestic treble and made decisive contributions in the UEFA Nations League. Despite missing the Club World Cup, his individual brilliance has been too dominant to ignore.
“He’s only 18, but already competing with the elite,” TNT Sports wrote. “No one dares to rule him out.” - Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
PSG’s midfield metronome helped the French giants win a historic quadruple and also lifted the UEFA Nations League with Portugal. Previously ranked No. 1, he slips slightly but remains a strong contender. - Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
The surprise of the season. Palmer was crowned best player at the Club World Cup and lifted Chelsea with dominant performances. His rise into the top three shocked many—he wasn’t even ranked last month. - Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
With 33 goals and 15 assists, Dembele led PSG’s attack through their treble-winning run and helped the team to the Club World Cup final. However, his ranking has dipped slightly after a quiet showing in the final stages.
“This one smells like destiny,” TNT speculated earlier this year when he was No. 1. - Raphinha (Barcelona)
Another key figure in Barça’s resurgence. He was influential across competitions but didn’t feature in the Club World Cup, slightly dimming his chances.
| Power rank | Player name | Current club |
| 1. | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| 2. | Vitinha | PSG |
| 3. | Cole Palmer | Chelsea |
| 4. | Ousmane Dembele | PSG |
| 5. | Raphinha | Barcelona |
| 6. | Nuno Mendes | PSG |
| 7. | Achraf Hakimi | PSG |
| 8. | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool |
| 9. | Gianluigi Donnarumma | PSG |
| 10. | Kylian Mbappe | Real Madrid |
Mbappe’s slide, and what it means
Perhaps the most surprising development is Kylian Mbappe’s fall. Despite a Champions League hat-trick and a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid, his loss to his former side, PSG, at the Club World Cup seriously damaged his campaign.
“Not even a Champions League hat-trick could save his bid,” TNT Sports remarked. The Frenchman now finds himself outside the top five, sitting in 10th.
