The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, held in Paris, is at the center of intense controversy following the leak of an alleged list of favorites just hours before the event. According to this document, the young Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, FC Barcelona forward, was leading, surprising many who expected more established names like Ousmane Dembélé, recent Champions League winner with PSG, or Kylian Mbappé, now at Real Madrid. This leak has ignited a fierce debate over the legitimacy and criteria of the prestigious trophy selection.
Football Africa’s expert points out that the Ballon d’Or selection is primarily based on « emotion, » where on-field performances intertwine with popularity, recent achievements, and media or popular expectations. This subjective aspect, though often criticized, according to him, helps maintain suspense and strong interest around the ceremony, attracting both football purists and sports entertainment fans alike.
This year, the renewal among the top candidates also reinforces fascination surrounding the Ballon d’Or. After several years dominated by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the emergence of promising young talents such as Lamine Yamal and Raphinha energizes the competition. This diversity fuels an open battle where emotions and performances mix, as seen by the presence of players from different leagues and disciplines, ranging from Barcelona stars to talents from PSG and Liverpool.
Finally, the spread of votes among a very large panel of players can influence the final result, making the vote even more unpredictable. A recent example is Modric winning the trophy despite many French players ranking highly, illustrating this complexity well. Beyond the numbers and statistics, the Ballon d’Or remains a celebration as much of football’s magic as of its most captivating protagonists, under the passionate watch of fans and media worldwide.