Updated 2025 Ballon d'Or Rankings After FIFA Club World Cup
The champions of Europe couldn't conquer the world.
Paris Saint-Germain didn't manage to round off a remarkable campaign in the Club World Cup final, with Chelsea running away with a rampant 3-0 victory.
The Blues walked away with the atom-like trophy and prize-winnings reported to be in the region of $84 million, which will be music to the ears of the club's spendthrift owners with the transfer window wide open.
PSG, on the other hand, will have to be content with a runner-up prize of a reported $78.4 million. C'est la vie.
But aside from the shiny new trophy and an excessive prize chest, there was something else on the line for a handful of players in the four weeks of the Club World Cup.
It was the last chance to make a case for the 2025 Ballon d'Or ahead of the trophy ceremony in October.
Ahead, we've updated the rankings for the player most likely to claim the golden orb, taking into account June and July's action in the United States.
10. Kylian Mbappé (-1)
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The Club World Cup should have been the perfect opportunity for Kylian Mbappé to shine.
However, the 26-year-old was laid low because of illness in the tournament's group stages.
He finally made his presence felt with a remarkable, acrobatic goal in the dramatic quarterfinal against Borussia Dortmund, but he was ineffective against his former club PSG during Les Parisiens' 4-0 crushing of Los Blancos in the semifinal.
He managed just one shot on target from four attempts in that game, and he only touched the ball a total of 27 times across 90 minutes, per WhoScored.
Like last season, it might take some time for Mbappé to settle under the guidance of a new manager. Xabi Alonso might not have been impressed so far, but it shouldn't be long before the Spaniard is won over by the Frenchman.
9. Nuno Mendes (New entry)
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With every passing game, Nuno Mendes is establishing himself as the best left-back in world football.
The 23-year-old was a constant threat down the left side during the season, but he rarely neglected his defensive responsibilities.
While those efforts didn't result in any goals or assists in the Club World Cup, he was still a key piece of PSG's game plan, being regularly involved in the play and whipping in some inviting crosses.
Mendes was targeted during the final against Chelsea, with Cole Palmer and João Pedro giving him an evening to forget. But during the rest of the tournament, and his season as a whole, he's been incredible.
He scored four goals and provided two assists during PSG's march to the Champions League final, and he locked down Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in the round-of-16.
His contributions to PSG's success this season from defense cannot be overstated.
8. Fabián Ruiz (New entry)
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Perhaps the less heralded member of PSG's incredible midfield trio, Fabián Ruiz apparently packed his scoring boots for the tour of the United States.
The Spaniard scored five goals in 53 games during the whole of PSG's treble-winning season, but he snagged three in seven games in PSG's run to the Club World Cup final, including two in the semifinal against Real Madrid.
Aside from that, though, Ruiz was his typically dynamic self, constantly showing for the ball and getting involved in the nitty gritty, while also being careful with his passes and keeping the tempo of play consistent.
He probably doesn't get quite as much credit as he deserves.
7. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (-2)
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While Khvicha Kvaratskhelia crashed into the B/R Ballon d'Or top 10 following the Champions League final, he drops a few places after an underwhelming (by his standards) Club World Cup.
The Georgian started brightly with two assists in the PSG's opening game against Atletico Madrid, but he was fairly quiet after, with his most notable contribution being a goal in the final game of the group stage against the Seattle Sounders.
Of course, that doesn't take anything away from his achievements with the French club since joining in January, but it does take the shine off his efforts somewhat.
Recency bias is definitely a thing, and for the journalists voting on the best player in the world from the 2024-25 campaign, Kvaratskhelia might slip out of the mind a bit following a lackluster summer tournament.
6. Vitinha (New entry)
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Vitinha was threatening the top 10 during the last set of B/R Ballon d'Or rankings, but the Portuguese has fully joined the conversation after the Club World Cup.
To get an idea of the 25-year-old's influence on the French champions, consider the 771 passes he made during the tournament with an accuracy of 94 percent, per FIFA.
To put that in context, the next player on the list, teammate Achraf Hakimi, made 536 passes. Meanwhile, the top passer in the tournament for Chelsea, the other team to have played the maximum seven games, was Levi Colwill with 385.
Then there's the diminutive midfielder's impact during the rest of the season to consider. His metronomic influence in PSG's engine room was a key part of the club's tactical setup, allowing them to control games and assert dominance. The prize for those efforts? Three major trophies and a lucrative trip to the Club World Cup final.
The Portuguese pass-master deserves all the plaudits coming his way.
5. Mohamed Salah (-1)
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Mohamed Salah had a historic season for Liverpool, one that ended with the Premier League Golden Boot and the domestic title.
The Egyptian practically dragged the Reds through games in the 2024-25 season, ensuring the club won the 20th league title in its history to draw level with Manchester United in top-flight trophies.
But he drops down these rankings simply because he wasn't present in the United States, through no fault of his own. Perhaps rubbing salt in the wound, one player from his continent who did feature in North America has taken his place.
4. Achraf Hakimi (+2)
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While Mendes is making a case to be the best left-back in the world, the man on the opposite flank for PSG, Achraf Hakimi, might now be considered the finest right-back on the planet.
The Moroccan was influential for Les Parisiens in the United States, either scoring or assisting in four out of seven games while putting in typically energetic performances.
Across the whole season, Hakimi scored 11 and provided 16 assists in 55 games as the French side hoovered up silverware. Unfortunately, he couldn't make his case for a Ballon d'Or podium place stronger as his side were humbled in the Club World Cup final.
Still, it's been a fantastic season for the 26-year-old, and considering defenders typically don't get the nod for the top individual award in world football, he can be content with at least putting pressure on the front-runners.
3. Lamine Yamal (No Change)
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Lamine Yamal didn't get to perform in the United States with Barcelona, but no player that did feature in the Club World Cup was able to do enough to displace him from the top three in the Ballon d'Or stakes—and a Nations League final loss with Spain stopped him from climbing higher.
The 17-year-old can sit back and relax as his 18 goals and 25 assists in a domestic double-winning season for La Blaugrana will be enough for a third-place finish.
Honestly, it's a real shame that the La Liga champions didn't make the Club World Cup selection, as it would have given us a chance to watch the young Spaniard continue his remarkable ascent.
2. Raphina (No Change)
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Again, while Barcelona's absence from the Club World Cup didn't allow Raphinha to make one last case to be named the best player on the planet, no one will take his runner-up spot.
The man who averaged more than one goal or assist per game last season took a well-earned rest in June and July, although he likely would have been itching to get on the pitch.
Unfortunately, he was a mere spectator as La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid strutted their stuff.
But with fresh winner's medals from La Liga and the Copa del Rey added to his collection, an opportunity to refresh and reboot ahead of an assault on domestic and European titles next season was likely just what he needed—with that rest perhaps even putting him among the favorites for the 2026 Ballon d'Or award before a ball is even kicked.
1. Ousmane Dembélé (No Change)
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Ousmane Dembélé couldn't add the Club World Cup to his substantial haul this season, but he at least did enough to shore up his case to be named the best player in the world for the 2024-25 season.
The Frenchman didn't even feature for Les Parisiens until the knockout stages, joining the action as a second-half substitute in the 4-0 round-of-16 victory over Inter Miami.
He only played 197 minutes of a possible 630, but he still had time to make an impact.
He scored the crucial second goal in the final embers of the quarterfinal against Bayern Munich, and he scored once and provided an assist in the semifinal thrashing of Real Madrid.
While he couldn't inspire his club to glory in the final—the only match in which he played 90 minutes—he still demonstrated his quality in limited appearances during his time in the U.S.
In all, the 28-year-old finished the campaign with 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games, as well as with winner's medals from Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the Champions League.
It was a hell of a season for a player who at one point looked like a waste of young potential. Apparently, he was just waiting for the right moment to come out of his shell.
