Camel Live Next Ballon d'Or 2025: A New Champion Crowned and the Stage Set for 2026
The 69th Ballon d'Or ceremony, held at the iconic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on September 22, 2025, officially closed the book on the 2024-25 football season by crowning a brand-new king of the sport. In an award historically dominated by a select few, the 2025 edition underscored a dramatic and exciting shift in the global football hierarchy, fueled by team success and individual brilliance on the club stage.
As the football world absorbs this result, the relentless march of the calendar means the race for the next Ballon d'Or is already underway. With the monumental 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the battle for football's most prestigious individual prize is set to be more open and thrilling than ever.
The 2025 Verdict: Dembélé's Triumph
The 2024-25 season was notable for being decided almost solely on club performances, without a major summer international tournament to sway voters. This placed the spotlight squarely on domestic and continental success, creating a unique landscape for the contenders.
Topping the final rankings was French winger Ousmane Dembélé. His sensational, consistent year with Paris Saint-Germain, where his dazzling performances were central to the club's historic triumphs, earned him a commanding total of 1380 points. Dembélé's victory is a story of perseverance and peak performance, proving that the post-Messi and Ronaldo era is rich with new narrative.
Finishing in a strong second place was Barcelona's teenage phenomenon, Lamine Yamal, with 1059 points. His runner-up finish, coupled with winning the Men's Kopa Trophy for the best young player, solidifies his status as perhaps the most exciting talent in world football. Completing the podium was Dembélé's PSG teammate, midfield maestro Vitinha, whose influential season earned him 703 points.
Below is a summary of the top five finishers in the 2025 Men's Ballon d'Or ranking:
| Rank | Player | Club (2024-25) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | 1380 |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | 1059 |
| 3 | Vitinha | Paris Saint-Germain | 703 |
| 4 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | 657 |
| 5 | Raphinha | Barcelona | 620 |
PSG's dominance in the voting, with players like Achraf Hakimi (6th), Gianluigi Donnarumma (9th), and Nuno Mendes (10th) also placing in the top ten, reflects their extraordinary season where they claimed multiple trophies.
The Road to 2026: A World Cup Will Decide
While the 2025 award celebrated a season of pure club football, the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or will be decisively shaped by the sport's grandest stage: the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time in this cycle, players will have the chance to etch their names in history on football's ultimate platform, an achievement that weighs heavily with Ballon d'Or voters.
The qualification picture is already coming into focus. Traditional powerhouses like France (led by Kylian Mbappé), England (spearheaded by Harry Kane and Declan Rice), Argentina, and Brazil have already booked their tickets. Notably, Norway, led by the prolific Erling Haaland, ended a long wait to qualify, giving their superstar a first-ever chance to shine at a senior international tournament.
This sets the stage for a Ballon d'Or battle where narratives will be written in North America next summer. A legendary World Cup performance could catapult a player to the top of the Ballon d'Or rankings, regardless of their club results in the preceding season.
Early Contenders for the 2026 Crown
As the 2025-26 European season progresses, several players have already staked their claim as early frontrunners for the next Golden Ball.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England): Now unburdened by the "trophy-less" narrative, Kane is playing with supreme confidence. His record-breaking goal-scoring form for Bayern, combined with his role as captain for an England side considered a top World Cup favorite, makes him a prime candidate.
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid & France): The long-anticipated Ballon d'Or winner is now the centerpiece of Real Madrid and the captain of France. A stellar season in Spain, followed by a deep run—or victory—with France at the World Cup, would finally see him fulfill his destiny.
Erling Haaland (Manchester City & Norway): After a relatively quiet 2025 in the voting, Haaland has returned to "Terminator mode" for Manchester City. His unique opportunity lies in carrying Norway on the World Cup stage; a standout tournament performance for his nation could be the decisive factor his candidacy has previously lacked.
The Next Generation (Yamal & Estevão): Barcelona's Lamine Yamal remains in the conversation, though his challenge may depend on both his club's fortunes and a stellar World Cup with Spain. Meanwhile, Chelsea's Brazilian teenager Estevão has burst onto the scene. If he becomes a key figure for both Chelsea and a World Cup-winning Brazil, a shock candidacy is not impossible.
Other names like Declan Rice of Arsenal, Vitinha of PSG, and Bayern's Luis Díaz and Michael Olise also have compelling pathways to contention, often linked to their potential impact in the upcoming World Cup.
A Wide-Open Future
The 2025 Ballon d'Or celebration of Ousmane Dembélé marked the end of one story and the beginning of another. The award has emphatically moved into a new, unpredictable era where multiple players from a variety of clubs and nations can realistically dream of lifting the trophy.
All roads now lead to the 2026 World Cup. The players who can combine excellence for their clubs with iconic, tournament-defining moments in North America will rise to the top of the Ballon d'Or conversation. The race for football's greatest individual honor is no longer a duopoly; it is a global, open competition, and the next chapter promises to be one of the most compelling in the award's long history.
