Ballon d’Or 2025 Power Rankings: Vinicius Jr’s revenge tour begins as Barcelona stars Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal make early Golden Ball cases

In 2024-25: Seven goals, three assists.

Not many players have made the step up from mid-table in the Premier League to Europe’s elite appear so straightforward, but then most of what Olise does appears so effortless. The €60 million (£51m/$65m) summer signing has taken to life in Germany like a duck to water, and is already proving indispensable for the Bavarians.

Of course, the France international still needs to prove he can maintain this form for a whole season at the highest level, but the early signs are that Bayern have got themselves a gem as they look to regain the Bundesliga title.

In 2024-25: Eight goals, four assists.

The outstanding player in Italy so far this season, Pulisic is beginning to look like the potentially world-class player many predicted he would become during his breakthrough years at Borussia Dortmund.

The biggest obstacle to him challenging for the Ballon d’Or is likely to be playing for AC Milan, who are lagging behind in both the Serie A and Champions League standings after making a poor start under new manager Paulo Fonseca. Pulisic is doing all he can to drag the Rossoneri back into contention, but he needs his team-mates to step up if he is to maintain any Golden Ball hopes.

In 2024-25: Seven goals, five assists.

Regarded by many as the best player in the Premier League right now, Palmer has picked up from where he left off last season by making a fast start to the campaign with what looks to be a revitalised Chelsea under Enzo Maresca.

After making it onto the Ballon d’Or shortlist in 2024, Palmer is well on track to do so again in 2025, but his lack of Champions League football may well hold him back from being among the true challengers come the end of the campaign.

In 2024-25: Eight goals, three assists. Won DFL-Supercup.

Wirtz made his first Ballon d’Or shortlist in 2024, and he is likely to become a staple over the next decade or so as the 21-year-old builds on his breakout campaign. He has begun the current season in similar form to the way he ended the previous one, scoring in each of Bayer Leverkusen’s first three Champions League games.

Xabi Alonso’s side, however, do not look the same proposition in the Bundesliga as they were in winning the title last term, so Wirtz may need to play even better to get himself in true Golden Ball contention.

In 2024-25: Four goals, seven assists.

As if it wasn’t already obvious, Saka’s importance to Arsenal was made clear over the past fortnight, as the Gunners’ forward line struggled to function while the winger sat a couple of games out with injury, only to make a scoring return when he was restored to the line-up against Liverpool.

Mikel Arteta’s side are playing catch-up after stuttering in the early weeks of the Premier League title race, but they do look a force in the Champions League, and as they get more of their key players back from injury they should reach their best level, led by their very own star boy.

In 2024-25: Three goals, two assists.

Barcelona have become the talk of European football following their fast start under Hansi Flick, with most of the attention going to their thrilling front-three. However, it would be foolish to overlook Pedri’s impact on the Blaugrana, with the Spain star finally back to his best after a couple of injury-hit seasons.

Pedri has everything to become the world’s best midfielder if he stays fit, and should Barca go deep in the Champions League, then more Ballon d’Or voters are going to see why he is so important to the Catalans on the biggest stage.

In 2024-25: Eight goals, two assists. Won UEFA Super Cup.

Mbappe may not have enjoyed the start to life at Real Madrid that he or the club’s fans might have wanted, but he is still scoring his fair share of goals and obviously has the ability to take his game to the top level once he gets used to his new surroundings in the Spanish capital.

It’s no secret that Mbappe craves the Ballon d’Or given its standing in his home country – however, there is a concern that he might have joined the one club in world football where there is a more impactful player than even him right now.

In 2024-25: 10 goals, seven assists.

Salah is out of contract at Liverpool in the summer of 2025, and so if this does prove to be his final year at Anfield, then he looks set on going out with a bang. ‘The Egyptian King’ has rediscovered his best form under new coach Arne Slot and is making the Reds look like genuine title contenders both in the Premier League and Champions League.

Age is showing no signs of catching up with the 32-year-old, and if he can fire Liverpool to silverware come the end of the campaign, he could be the man to end Africa’s long wait for a first Ballon d’Or winner since George Weah in 1995.

In 2024-25: 17 goals, six assists.

Is this the year Kane finally ends the wait for the first trophy of his otherwise-storied career? Certainly, Bayern have made a fast start in the Bundesliga under Vincent Kompany, with Kane yet again showing his goal-scoring instincts remain at the highest level despite having turned 31 over the summer.

Rodri’s win highlighted that goals alone don’t necessarily win players Ballons d’Or anymore, but Kane certainly has the all-round game that should catch the voters’ eyes if he can lead the Bavarians to glory at home and on the continent in 2025.

In 2024-25: 12 goals, nine assists.

There is an argument to say that Raphinha has been the best of Barcelona’s electric front-three so far this season, and his raw goal and assist numbers certainly help back that up. However, it feels like the Brazilian is playing from behind as the least-heralded of the Blaugrana’s attacking trio, and thus will likely need to post other-worldly statistics to prove himself Ballon d’Or-worthy.

Saying that, there is no doubt that Raphinha is playing the best football of his career right now, and there is no reason to believe that he can’t keep that up and become a serious Golden Ball contender over the course of the campaign.

In 2024-25: 17 goals.

Rodri became the first Ballon d’Or winner from the Premier League since 2008 when he picked up the Golden Ball in Paris on Monday, and if there is to be another recipient of the award from the English top flight in 12 months’ time, then Haaland is the most likely candidate right now.

With the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden enduring slow starts to the campaign, Haaland has had to lead from the front for Manchester City, and the incessant goal machine already looks nailed on for a third consecutive Golden Boot. Given Pep Guardiola’s side are already top of the table and generally improve in the second half of the season, Haaland has a real chance to go one better than his second-placed finish in 2023.

In 2024-25: Eight goals, seven assists. Won UEFA Super Cup.

Upon confirmation of his surprise second-placed finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Vinicius swore that “the world wasn’t ready” for what is now likely to become his revenge tour. The Brazilian clearly felt that he should have been up on stage with the Golden Ball rather than Rodri, and he is ready to stake his claim yet again over the next 12 months.

Certainly, the Real Madrid winger has looked in electric form during the early weeks of the campaign, and there might not be a forward anywhere in world football who can match Vinicius at his best. He might need his club as a whole to find some form in the second half of the season if he is to maintain a challenge, but Vini looks primed to prove himself worthy in 2025.

In 2024-25: Six goals, eight assists.

No player has won the Ballon d’Or before their 21st birthday in the almost-70 years of the award, but right now it would be a shock if Yamal didn’t break that record given he has another three seasons to get there. There is presently no greater talent in the game than the Barcelona teenager, who, as he is already showing in 2024-25, is only going to get better and better.

He’s being outscored by two of his team-mates in Catalunya but La Liga watchers will tell you that the 17-year-old has been the most impressive player in Spain thus far this campaign. As such, the Kopa Trophy winner may well be back on stage in Paris in 12 months’ time holding an even bigger trophy.

In 2024-25: 18 goals, four assists.

After Lewandowski missed out on the Ballon d’Or shortlist in 2024, it seemed like the Pole’s long and thus far fruitless bid to pick up a Golden Ball was over. However, having been reunited with his former Bayern coach Hansi Flick at Barcelona, the 36-year-old has rolled back the years to become Europe’s most potent No.9 once again.

Age could yet catch up with the veteran in the coming months, and there are undeniably more thrilling to players to watch in his own team, never mind among Barca’s rivals, but Lewandowski has set himself up to be back in the Ballon d’Or reckoning with his fast start to the campaign.