Ballon d'Or
Here is who will win the Ballon d’Or over the next years to come
The battle to dominate football in the coming years has only just begun.
The throne of the king of football, long shared between Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, has occasionally been occupied by Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, and Rodri with their Ballon d’Or triumphs.
This year, the Spaniard from Manchester City emerged as the standout player, claiming prestigious honors from L’Équipe and UEFA. His achievements with both Spain and his club in England were instrumental to his recognition.
In a year without a major international summer tournament—aside from the Nations League—and with the expanded Club World Cup as a key highlight, the race to be the best player in the world will largely hinge on performances in the Champions League and domestic leagues. The list of contenders to succeed the injured Rodri as the world’s best is extensive. Rodri himself hopes to return for the decisive stretch of the season.
The contenders are mostly young talents, poised to dominate for years to come, with Mohamed Salah as the notable exception. Meanwhile, Harry Kane, a perennial goalscorer and Bayern Munich’s talisman, also remains in the mix as a strong candidate.
Vinicius (24 years old, Real Madrid)
The Brazilian has been playing at a very high level for several seasons. He can dribble, score goals, andbeat players with ease: he is a truly destructive force in Real Madrid’s side. In a one-on-one situation, he is almost impossible to stop. Winner of The Best and second in the recent Ballon d’Or race, Vini Jr is just one star in the Bernabéu galaxy.
Jude Bellingham (21 years old, Real Madrid)
The English midfielder’s aspirations are based on his talent and his ability to adapt to any position. A natural leader with a lot of charisma, Bellingham could be the best in the world for several years in a row. At Madrid, he has also added another huge string to his bow: scoring important goals.
Haaland (24 years old, Manchester City)
Haaland has had a less-than-impressive season so far, like the whole City team, but nobody dares to say that he won’t deserve a Ballon d’Or in the coming years. In the years without major international tournaments, he has his big chance, and what’s certain is that we’re unlikely to see a goalscorer of his calibre emerge any time soon.
Kylian Mbappé (26 years old, Real Madrid)
The French striker has come to Real Madrid to forge his legend. There is no better spotlight than the Spanish capital to win the Ballon d’Or and take the throne of world football. His name has been written in gold letters for several years as the logical leader to succeed Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, he just needs to step up and grab the opportunity.
Lamine Yamal (17 years old, Barcelona)
The Spanish forward has been touched by a magic wand. His precocity and the talent in his legs are both as frightening as each other, and the comparisons with Messi at Barça are becoming harder to avoid. He is already a key figure with both Barcelona and Spain. No one doubts that if he continues this progression he can be the best in the world for many years... if he is not there already.
Jamal Musiala (21 years old, Bayern)
The German footballer continues to develop in the right direction and it seems like a century has passed since he dazzled at a very young age in the Germany XI. Musiala is already among the elite of football and he is only 21-years-old; a key part of a champion team, one of the best national teams in the world and with more talent than most, Musiala possesses a cocktail that, the day it explodes, could be unstoppable.
Cole Palmer (22, Chelsea)
There is no doubt that he has something unique, a special aura. It seems that he does little as he trots around the pitch, but his effectiveness and his movement already makes it clear that he is a player who is difficult to categorise. An introverted character, the Chelsea player continues to accumulate praise each weekend and is very close to the top level of elite football.
Florian Wirtz (21 years old, Bayer Leverkusen)
The fact that he shines at such a high level without being part of one of the most powerful clubs in Europe says it all. He has shown himself to be a leader in the making at Leverkusen and can take the leap forward that he has shown in recent years. He has all the requirements to be successful for a long time. Goals, dribbling, instinct, vision of the game and personality, Wirtz is one of a kind.
Mohamed Salah (32 years old, Liverpool)
Perhaps this is his last chance to become the best in the world, but 2025 could be his year. Right now, nobody can match Salah’s footballing level and on top of that, he is improving every year. Perhaps it is time again (think back to Weah in 1995) for an African player to be named the best in the world.
Harry Kane (31 years old, Bayern)
The English striker has always been a goal-getter; if he is on form, he is very difficult to stop. If Kane manages to reach the top, his reign will not last long, but it is not out of the question that he will manage to do so. His story is similar to that of Lewandowski. And playing for Bayern, always a contender for everything, gives him visibility that he can take advantage of.
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