In a highly anticipated prelude to the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony, the rankings from positions 30 to 11 were unveiled, leaving football fans buzzing about some notable omissions from the coveted top 10. The absence of prominent names like Erling Haaland, Vinícius Jr., and Harry Kane from the final shortlist has set social media ablaze, with supporters and critics alike questioning the criteria behind this year’s selections.
The rankings, which were disclosed on Monday, reveal that a few established stars have made their way into the lower echelons of the list, including Haaland, who secured 26th position after a remarkable season with Manchester City. Similarly, Brazilian forward Vinícius Jr., known for his electrifying performances with Real Madrid, placed 16th. Meanwhile, Kane, a talisman for Bayern Munich, found himself sitting in 13th place—much to the disappointment of fans who believed he deserved a higher ranking.
As the ceremony draws closer, there is an air of anticipation at the Théâtre du Châtelet, where the world’s best footballer will be crowned from the list of 30 candidates. PSG leads the charge with multiple entries, including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembélé, both of whom are seen as strong contenders for the top honor.
Here’s a closer look at the rankings from 30 to 11:
30 — Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
29 — Florian Wirtz (Liverpool, Germany)
28 — Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool, Netherlands)
27 — Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)
26 — Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
25 — Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, Netherlands)
24 — Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain, Spain)
23 — Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
22 — Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, Argentina)
21 — Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund, Guinea)
20 — Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
19 — Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)
18 — Scott McTominay (Napoli, Scotland)
17 — Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona, Poland)
16 — Vinicius Jr. (Real Madrid, Brazil)
15 — Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP, Sweden)
14 — Désiré Doué (PSG, France)
13 — Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
12 — Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, Georgia)
11 — Pedro González López (Barcelona, Spain)
The omission of these big names from the top spots has sparked intense debate about the weighting of performances in club and international competitions, as well as how the voting system might have influenced the outcome. As the world turns its attention to the official awards night, the focus will now shift to those still in the running for the prestigious Ballon d’Or title.
The 2025 ceremony is expected to be a spectacle of its own, with much attention placed on the names still in the mix. Among the expected frontrunners are rising stars like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, both of whom have delivered exceptional performances in the past year.
