Achraf Hakimi, long considered the favorite to win the 2025 African Ballon d’Or, now faces serious challenges to his victory given the results of the 2025 Ballon d’Or. The Moroccan full-back, who excelled with a historic quadruple at PSG and set offensive records for a defender, seemed destined to be crowned African player of the year. However, his world Ballon d’Or ranking places him only sixth, behind notably French international Ousmane Dembélé, the new winner, and other emerging talents like Lamine Yamal and Vitinha.
The African Ballon d’Or, with a ceremony expected in December 2025 before or during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) hosted in Morocco, is based mainly on club performances from January to October 2025, excluding the CAN period. Hakimi remains a major candidate due to his 11 goals and 16 assists plus decisive performances in the Champions League quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final. Still, several other African players are rising, including Mohamed Salah, ranked fourth in the world Ballon d’Or, and Ayoub El Kaabi, co-top scorer in the Europa League.
This apparent shift in hierarchy has sparked debate among fans and experts. Some argue Hakimi could still be unbeatable at the African level despite his sixth place in the global ranking. However, Dembélé’s election, also at PSG and a direct club rival, highlights the intense competitiveness between African and international players, where collective and individual performances are meticulously analyzed. The presence of three African players among the 30 nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or — Hakimi, Salah, and Serhou Guirassy — illustrates the continent’s strong representation at the elite level of world football.
While Hakimi remains the logical favorite for the 2025 African Ballon d’Or, his global ranking invites a reevaluation of the contenders’ strengths. Dembélé’s coronation and the rise of other young African talents like Lamine Yamal remind that the African title could hold surprises. The eagerly awaited CAF Awards ceremony will be closely watched as a decisive indicator to confirm or deny the prediction favoring the Moroccan defender, in a context where competition promises to be fiercer than ever.