Golden ball: the final classification and the detail of the votes

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By: Nicolas Gerbault

PSG: the Dembélé injury revealed

Ousmane Dembélé crowned, PSG dominates, Mbappé disappoints: decryption of a classification that caused a sensation.

The verdict fell at the Théâtre du Châtelet. Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 Golden Ball, crowning an exceptional season with PSG. But beyond this French coronation, the whole ranking reveals the trends in world football and a few size surprises that question the voting criteria of international jurors.

Parisian domination strikes hard

Five PSG players in the Top 10 is unheard of in the history of the Ballon d'Or. Ousmane Dembélé leads the dance in front of his teammate Vitinha (3rd), while Achraf Hakimi (6th), Gianluigi Donnarumma (9th) and Nuno Mendes (10th) complete this Parisian hegemony. This collective performance perfectly illustrates the reference season of the capital's club, European and France champion.

However, the 6th place of Hakimi surprises with its modesty. The Moroccan side, keystone of the Luis Enrique system and author of a phenomenal season, logically deserved a place on the podium. This disappointing position questions about the recognition of the post of defender in votes, traditionally less valued than attackers.

Mbappé is “only” 7th

The 7th place of Kylian Mbappé is the shock of this ranking. European gold shoe with 44 goals, the French captain will not have managed to compensate for a white season in Real Madrid, deprived of major trophies. This position cruelly illustrates the importance of collective titles in the allocation of the prestigious individual trophy.

Lamine Yamal (2nd) confirms him the emergence of a new generation, while Mohamed Salah (4th) proves his longevity at the highest level. The classification also reveals surprises like Cole Palmer (8th) or the presence of six players from FC Barcelona in the Top 30, testifying to the Catalan Renaissance.

The complete ranking of the Golden Ball 2025:

  1. Ousmane Dembélé (France, PSG)
  2. Lamine Yamal (Spain, FC Barcelona)
  3. Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
  4. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
  5. Raphinha (Brazil, FC Barcelona)
  6. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG)
  7. Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
  8. Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea)
  9. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, PSG then Man City)
  10. Nuno Mendes (Portugal, PSG)
  11. Pedri (Spain, FC Barcelona)
  12. KHVICHA KVAratskhelia (Georgia, Naples then PSG)
  13. Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
  14. Désiré Goué (France, PSG)
  15. Viktor Gyokeres (Sweden, Sporting then Arsenal)
  16. Vinicius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
  17. Robert Lewandowski (Poland, FC Barcelona)
  18. Scott MCTOMINAY (Scotland, Naples)
  19. João Neves (Portugal, PSG)
  20. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan)
  21. Serhou Guirassy (Guinea, Borussia Dortmund)
  22. Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina, Liverpool)
  23. Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
  24. Fabián Ruiz (Spain, PSG)
  25. Denzel Dumfries (Netherlands, Inter Milan)
  26. Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
  27. Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
  28. Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands, Liverpool)
  29. Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen then Liverpool)
  30. Michael Olise (France, Bayern Munich)
Nicolas Gerbault

Written by:

Nicolas Gerbault

Nicolas Gerbault is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Nicolas discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Nicolas enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.