Who will win Europe's best footballer and the 2025 Ballon d'Or? Ousmane Dembele odds-on favourite

PSG and France forward Ousmane Dembele (1/4) is the odds-on favourite to win the Ballon d’Or after his – and PSG’s – incredible 2024/25 season. 

The Ballon d’Or is a global prize, awarded since 1956, which is presented to honour the player that is deemed to have performed the best over the previous season in the football world.

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In 1995, the award was expanded to include all players of any origin that have been active at European clubs with football journalists voting as to who the best player in European or world football is every season.

Eight-time recipient Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or more than anybody else, with Cristiano Ronaldo having done so the second-most on five occasions. The current holder and 2024 winner is Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.

Dembele - according to Transfermarkt - scored 35 goals and contributed 16 assists in 53 matches in all competitions last season.

PSG won Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Trophee des Champions along with the club’s first-ever Champions League triumph. 

Despite being runners-up in the FIFA Club World Cup just a few weeks ago, it’s been a historic campaign for the French capital club.

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Barcelona and Spain sensation Lamine Yamal is second-favourite with the bookmakers (5/1) as the 18-year-old helped Barca to win the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana. 

The wonderkid was also named in both the La Liga and UEFA Champions League Team of the Seasons and won 2024’s Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy award.

Portugal and PSG’s midfield maestro Vitinha (20/1) is next in the bookies’ estimations, after helping clinch four trophies alongside the aforementioned Dembele. 

Mohamed Salah (25/1) is fourth-favourite to scoop Europe’s top prize after a remarkable individual Premier League season, which helped Liverpool seal a 20th league title in the Reds’ history.

Barcelona and Brazil wing wizard Raphinha (33/1) is fifth-favourite, with Lamine Yamal occupying the right-hand side for the Blaugrana and the 28-year-old on the left. 

Chelsea and England playmaker Cole Palmer (40/1) helped his club win the Europa Conference League last season.

The 23-year-old bagged a brace for the Blues in the FIFA Club World Cup final against reigning European champions PSG and was their standout performer in 2024/25.

Two key components of PSG’s winning machine, Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi (60/1) and Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz (70/1), are big prices to win the individual honour after playing their part in their team’s impressive trophy haul last season.

Real Madrid were runners-up in every Spanish competition last season so, after an exit in the Champions League quarter-finals and FIFA Club World Cup semi-finals, Los Blancos and French forward Kylian Mbappe is an outsider at 66/1.

PSG quartet Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (50/1), Nuno Mendes (66/1), Gianluigi Donnarumma (100/1) and Desire Doue (also 100/1) are perhaps harshly done by given the parts they all played for Luis Enrique’s record-setters last season.