Ballon d’Or Power Rankings: Salah’s Case Stronger Than Dembele or Raphinha

With the European club football season now concluded, and the Club World Cup not holding significant sway over individual accolades, the premier players globally have done everything possible to stake their claim for the prestigious Ballon d`Or. The anticipation builds until September 22nd, when the recipient for the season`s top individual honor will be revealed, leaving plenty of opportunity for discussion and debate.

Such discussions are, of course, part of the fun. While the greatest achievements in team sports are undeniably those secured collectively, evaluating which footballer has been the most outstanding on the planet in any given season remains a valuable exercise.

This year`s race promises added excitement as there is no overwhelming favorite, unlike the periods dominated by Lionel Messi. At the beginning of 2025, Mohamed Salah appeared to be the potential lock, showcasing imperious form. However, few could have foreseen Paris Saint-Germain`s meteoric rise from Champions League hopefuls to Europe`s elite side, leading many to consider their star forward, Ousmane Dembele, the leading candidate for the award.

Our aim here isn`t to predict the winner (check the betting odds if you want that). A more intriguing question is who truly deserves to win. What factors weigh heaviest? Output is paramount, and given that the most critical actions in football involve scoring or creating goals, players who excel in these areas will be strongly considered. However, defensive contributions also hold considerable importance, though perhaps this season`s narrative is dominated by the stunning offensive numbers from top forwards.

While we must avoid reducing everything to mere trophy counts, it`s undeniable that goals, assists, and clean sheets that lead to winning major competitions matter. The Ballon d`Or criteria specifically include a player`s contribution to `team performances and achievements`. Finding the right balance between team success, individual brilliance, and the third criterion, `class and fair play,` is more art than strict science, yet it still demands a significant degree of objective analysis.

At this stage of the season, raw statistical output carries the most weight. While early in the 2026 season, metrics like xG and per 90 stats will offer hints about future performance, for 2025, we have nearly a complete picture of the season`s data. Here`s how the contenders currently stack up in our power rankings:

1. Mohamed Salah, Liverpool (+900)

Before this season, only two players in Premier League history had reached 47 goal involvements in a single campaign, both requiring 42 games to do so. Salah matched this record even while easing off towards the season`s end, finishing with an incredible 34 goals and 23 assists across all competitions. Liverpool`s early exit from the Champions League should not detract from his achievement, especially when he spearheaded an underrated Liverpool side to comfortably win Europe`s most competitive domestic league.

2. Raphinha, Barcelona (+1000)

What a remarkable journey. At the season`s start, Barcelona`s leadership reportedly sought to offload Raphinha. Nine months later, he was a central figure in their title-winning campaign. The Brazilian also shone in the Champions League, contributing to 21 goals, matching Cristiano Ronaldo`s record. Had Barcelona won the Champions League, this contribution likely would have propelled him to the top spot.

3. Ousmane Dembele, PSG (-200)

The argument for Dembele is straightforward. His emergence as one of the world`s top center forwards was arguably the most significant factor in transforming PSG into a Champions League-winning side. He was exceptional leading the attack, delivering some of his finest displays in the season`s most crucial matches. The players ranked above him, however, maintained their output over a full year in more challenging domestic leagues.

4. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG (+1600)

The top three likely occupy a tier of their own. From here, we rank players who, while perhaps not quite Ballon d`Or frontrunners, have been undeniably brilliant. Kvaratskhelia fits this description, representing another key mid-season change that helped turn PSG into a superteam. While his raw output doesn`t match those above him, Kvaratskhelia excels at driving his team into scoring positions and executing with flair.

5. Pedri, Barcelona (+3300)

Recognized as the standout midfielder of the season, a sentiment echoed by others. “A player like Pedri is more important than Lamine Yamal, Raphinha or Lewandowski,” stated Toni Kroos recently, calling him “the best in the world in his position.” His ball progression statistics were consistently excellent, but the 22-year-old also impressed many with his surprising commitment to tackling and interceptions.

6. Lamine Yamal, Barcelona (+275)

Purely based on output, Yamal is close to the top three with 39 goal involvements. This is extraordinary for any player, let alone a 17-year-old. However, the powerful narrative of performing at such a high level in Champions League semifinals is a key reason he`s considered a favorite. Based on his current trajectory, it seems a matter of when, not if, he joins the elite group of Ballon d`Or winners.

7. Achraf Hakimi, PSG (+5000)

Several PSG players could claim a spot around the top 10, but Hakimi earns his place for two main reasons. Firstly, his dynamic play both offensively and defensively embodies the qualities of Luis Enrique`s team. Secondly, he scored crucial goals in the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, which significantly boosts his case.

8. Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid (+3300)

One could argue that Mbappe`s presence somewhat destabilized Real Madrid, potentially disqualifying him from the Ballon d`Or discussion. However, the integration of a new signing wasn`t the sole reason Los Merengues, plagued by defensive injuries, faced challenges. They might have struggled even more without Mbappe`s 42 goals across the season.

9. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool (+10000)

Van Dijk had an outstanding season. Any slight loss of pace he might have experienced was more than compensated for by the development of his on-the-ball skills in recent years, making him crucial to Liverpool`s success.

10. Harry Kane, Bayern Munich (+10000)

This entry is relatively straightforward. Kane ranks second among players in Europe`s top five leagues for goal contributions, achieving this in nearly 1,000 fewer minutes than Salah. Even at 31, he delivers league-leading scoring numbers and ranks among the top 10 for assists, now complementing his individual stats with team trophies.