Last season, Mbappe scored 43 goals across all competitions, including 31 in La Liga, earning him both the Golden Boot and the European Golden Shoe. The French striker has maintained his excellent form this season, netting 6 goals in 5 matches, most recently with a brace against Marseille in the Champions League.
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Mbappe celebrates his goal, making the score 2-1, during Real Madrid's victory over Marseille at the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain on 16/9/2025. _Photo: Reuters_ |
However, Mbappe acknowledged the difficulty of competing for the 2025 Ballon d'Or due to a lack of major titles. Last season, Real Madrid secured the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup but fell short against rivals Barcelona in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, and were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals.
"To win the Ballon d'Or, you first need trophies. I will try to help the club win titles, and then we'll see what happens," Mbappe stated after the Marseille victory.
Mbappe also expressed his support for his compatriot Dembele and confirmed his absence from the Ballon d'Or ceremony on 22/9. "I would be happy if Dembele wins because he's my friend, and I've always supported him. I'll be watching on TV, hoping he gets it," the 26-year-old forward shared.
Dembele is a strong contender for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Last season, the French forward scored 35 goals and provided 16 assists in 53 appearances, contributing significantly to PSG's Champions League, Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue, and Coupe de France victories.
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Ousmane Dembele celebrates PSG's Champions League triumph in the 2024-2025 season. _Photo: Yahoo Sports_ |
According to European media, other prominent contenders include Barcelona players Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah. All three impressed with their individual and team performances in the 2024-2025 season.
Raphinha contributed 34 goals and 25 assists in 57 matches, while Yamal scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 55 games. Both played crucial roles in Barcelona's La Liga, Supercopa de España, and Copa del Rey triumphs. At Liverpool, Salah recorded 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 matches, helping Liverpool secure the Premier League title.
An AI model developed by French data company AVISIA predicts Dembele as the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner with a 72% probability. Yamal (56%) and his teammate Vitinha (40%) follow closely behind.
AVISIA's model considers not only traditional metrics like goals, team trophies, and individual awards but also a new factor: media influence. This metric analyzes voting trends based on a player's nationality, club, and playing style.
The 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place at the Chatelet Theater in Paris, France, on the evening of 22/9.
Compiled by Hong Duy
