The race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or award is hotting up and Barcelona legend Deco has now weighed in with his thoughts about who deserves to win the prestigious individual accolade. There are now three months to go before the award is handed out in Paris on September 22.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele currently leads GiveMeSport’s Ballon d’Or Power Rankings following a magnificent season in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. In second place is Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who could become the youngest-ever Ballon d’Or winner, followed by Dembele’s PSG teammate Vitinha.
In fourth place is Barcelona’s Raphinha, who was instrumental in his club’s La Liga triumph, while Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is currently fifth. The Egyptian forward contributed a remarkable 34 goals in 23 assists for the Reds last term and it would be cruel if he misses out on a place on the Ballon d’Or podium.
However, Salah is one of several big-name players that Deco has omitted from his four-man shortlist for the prize. There’s also no place for Kylian Mbappe - the European Golden Shoe winner - or the aforementioned Raphinha. Let’s take a look at Deco’s four picks.
Recent Ballon d'Or Winners
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Deco's Four Picks For 2025 Ballon d'Or Award
Former Portugal international left out Salah and Mbappe
deco portugal
Lamine Yamal
Lamine Yamal
No surprise here, eh? Lamine Yamal will surely be on the Ballon d’Or podium. The only question is whether he finishes first, second or third. The 17-year-old is a generational talent who is already being compared to arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi. Not even Messi managed to win the Ballon d’Or as a teenager.
Pedri
Pedri with the Golden Boy award
Pedri currently occupies ninth place in GiveMeSport’s Ballon d’Or Power Rankings, just ahead of PSG full-back Nuno Mendes, who won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal this summer. The Barcelona star was, in the eyes of some fans and pundits alike, the best midfielder in European football during the 2024-25 campaign.
Ousmane Dembele
PSG striker Ousmane Dembele
Nobody is leaving Dembele out of their top three, are they? The France international received plenty of criticism for his professionalism and mentality during his time at Barcelona, but he’s knuckled down at PSG and is now reaping the rewards. The 28-year-old will be a worthy Ballon d’Or winner if he receives enough votes.
Vitinha
vitinha
PSG midfielder Vitinha went under the radar for much of the 2024-25 season, but it was impossible to ignore his performances during the latter stages of the Champions League. He then helped Portugal win the Nations League, catapulting himself to third spot in GiveMeSport’s Ballon d’Or Power Rankings in the process.
EPL_Ballon d'Or 2025 Power Rankings Related
Ballon d'Or 2025 Power Rankings
The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or award is heating up with Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele among the front-runners.
Discussing his Ballon d’Or thoughts, Deco told La Vanguardia, per TNT Sports: "Lamine has a chance, like Pedri, Dembele or Vitinha.” The former Portugal international added: "The great thing is to see Barca back in the running for the awards.”