It’s not Lamine Yamal: Barcelona star emerges as 2025 Ballon d’Or early favorite ahead of Kylian Mbappe; Mohamed Salah suffers stunning drop

Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are, as always, in the conversation for this years ballon d’Or award. Mohamed Salah, after a sensational start to the campaign, has seen his chances take a hit. But a new name from Barcelona has unexpectedly surged to the front of the pack—and it’s not Lamine Yamal.

For years, the Ballon d’Or award was synonymous with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The legendary duo dominated the award, leaving little room for debate. But in recent seasons, the prestigious accolade has become far more unpredictable.