Kylian Mbappe has shared his thoughts on this year's Ballon d'Or contenders, excluding Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah from his list of current favourites for the coveted prize.
The 2025 award season buzzes with speculation as numerous players have delivered impressive performances. One name dominating discussions is Ousmane Dembele, the former Barcelona star whose 33-goal haul was pivotal in Paris Saint-Germain clinching the Champions League title for the first time.
Barcelona's sensational Lamine Yamal is another heavy-hitter after an awe-inspiring season with the Spanish club. Mbappe didn't name Florian Wirtz either, with the Germany international closing in on a move to Liverpool.
While Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has been a crucial figure for the Reds during their Premier League-winning campaign, Mbappe omitted the Egyptian from his top picks while acknowledging with RMC Sport: "Would I vote for Dembele? Yes.
"Is there really any need to explain? We're talking about Yamal and Dembele, I'm going for Dembele. It's very clear!"
"Things are evolving very quickly, as the last few winners have shown. We weren't talking about certain players who ultimately won. Is it September? A lot will happen between now and then, but today we're talking about Ousmane and Lamine. That's why I responded."
Mohamed Salah was excellent during the 2024-25 season
Mohamed Salah was excellent during the 2024-25 season (Image: Getty Images)
Even Cristiano Ronaldo, himself a five-time Ballon d'Or victor, chimed in recently regarding Yamal's chances for the Ballon d'Or, suggesting caution before placing such demands on the young player, yet recognising him as a serious contender.
During a Portugal press conference, Ronaldo remarked: "Lamine Yamal is doing very well, he is taking full advantage of his talent. Now let the kid grow and don't put too much pressure on him. Let him be and let him grow well, take the pressure off him. He has no shortage of talent."
He continued: "The individual awards have lost some consensus; I can't say anything about who should win. In my opinion, those who stand out and win the Champions League should win. But there is no consensus."
"I don't believe much in individual awards because I know what goes on behind the scenes. Lamine could win, like Dembele or Vitinha, other emerging players... But individual awards are irrelevant."
The Ballon d'Or 2025 is set to be awarded this September at a swanky ceremony in Paris, with the shortlist expected to be announced the month prior. Manchester City's Rodri is the current titleholder, having secured last year's accolade.