The 2025 African Ballon d’Or promises a fierce contest among several rising and established stars of continental football. After Ademola Lookman’s crowning in 2024, Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan right-back for Paris Saint-Germain, stands out as the top favorite. With an exceptional 2024-2025 season featuring a quadruple (Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup, Trophée des Champions) and impressive stats of 11 goals and 16 assists, Hakimi broke Dani Alves’ historic record for a defender, establishing himself as a true offensive and defensive asset on the field.
Despite Hakimi’s achievement, Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian forward for Liverpool, remains a serious contender. As the Premier League’s top scorer and English champion, Salah faces a setback due to an early Champions League exit, which might cost him votes. Serhou Guirassy, the Guinean striker for Borussia Dortmund, is also among the outsiders with 44 goals over the season, confirming his rise on the European stage.
Other African players like Omar Marmoush, Victor Osimhen, or Yassine Bounou have delivered good performances, but their collective or international achievements are less remarkable in comparison. The key evaluation period will run from January to October 2025, with the award ceremony planned for December alongside the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where decisive club performances will be crucial.
This duel among prominent African figures highlights the growing importance of African footballers in major European leagues and increasing recognition of their talent at the highest level. The suspense remains whole, and fans across the continent eagerly await the announcement of Ademola Lookman’s successor for this prestigious trophy honoring the best African player of the year.