The 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or were announced earlier this week, and the shortlist featured expected frontrunners such as Ousmane Dembele, Mohamed Salah and Raphinha.
However, some of the players up for the prestigious prize took football fans by surprise, and there have been debates about some of the stars overlooked this year.
For example, the inclusion of Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has led some to question the validity of the list, as did the fact that Chelsea's Moises Caicedo was not one of the 30 players named.
Likewise, Arsenal's Declan Rice was featured despite his well-known limitations on the ball, as well as the fact that the Gunners did not win a single trophy.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay also made the list this year, as did Cole Palmer, who dealt with prolonged dry spells at Chelsea last season.
Here, Sports Mole considers some of the more contentious nominees for the Ballon d'Or, and takes a look at their performance in 2024-25.
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister reacts on October 2, 2024
What did Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister do in 2024-25 to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or?
One of the inclusions that has drawn the most attention is Mac Allister, with the Reds midfielder seen by some as a good player but not necessarily a world class one.
However, the Argentine star was one of Liverpool's most important players during their Premier League-winning campaign, and arguably their best in the middle third.
Despite sitting out matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the end of last season, Mac Allister racked up 3656 minutes for the club across all competitions, making 35 appearances in the top flight.
While some consider the Merseysiders' midfielder to be overrated, Arne Slot highlighted his value to the team by stating that the only times he did not play were occasions when he was unavailable due to fatigue or injury.
In fact, the title-winning manager repeatedly singled out the number 10 for individual praise throughout 2024-25, describing him as 'special', and mentioning that "He is one of the few players in the world that combines this great game intelligence, great on the ball, but [with] a tenacity without the ball."
Arsenal's Declan Rice celebrates scoring on May 3, 2025
How did Arsenal's Declan Rice earn his Ballon d'Or nomination in 2024-25?
Signing for the Gunners for £105m in 2023, Rice arrived at the Emirates with lofty expectations, and it would be fair to say that he has been one of their best players since making the move.
Mikel Arteta's side may be lacking in silverware, but they have been consistently challenging for the game's biggest prizes in recent seasons.
In 2024-25, Rice featured 61 times for club and country, amassing 4735 minutes, highlighting his importance to both Arsenal and the England national team.
Despite his role being that of a more physical box-to-box presence, the midfielder produced a commendable 11 goals and 11 assists last term, and his ball-carrying has been vital for the Londoners.
However, by far the most high-profile moment of the season for Rice came against Real Madrid, when he struck two excellent free-kicks to knock out the 15-time Champions League winners.
Scott McTominay of Napoli on April 14, 2025
Scott McTominay: How did the Napoli midfielder make the Ballon d'Or shortlist?
Former Manchester United midfielder McTominay has enjoyed something of a career revival in Serie A, and his surprise nomination for the Ballon d'Or speaks volumes to his contribution at Napoli.
In 2024-25, the 28-year-old became one of the key figures in Antonio Conte's side, scoring 12 goals and registering six assists from 34 league games.
The Scotland star even scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win against Cagliari on the division's final matchday - a spectacular scissor kick no less - that brought the title back to Naples.
For his efforts last term, McTominay earned the honour of being named Serie A player of the season, in stark contrast to his final days at Old Trafford that were largely spent on the bench.
The midfielder has made the £25.4m fee that Gli Azzurri paid to sign him from the Red Devils look like a bargain, and his Ballon d'Or nomination is sure to be a career highlight.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer celebrates with the FIFA Club World Cup trophy alongside Reece James and Joao Pedro on July 13, 2025
Cole Palmer's 2024-25 that got the Chelsea playmaker on the Ballon d'Or shortlist
Chelsea's Palmer has been one of the best players in the Premier League since he made the switch from Manchester City to Chelsea.
With his 15 goals and eight assists across 37 top-flight appearances last term, the England international led the Blues back into the Champions League.
Despite his contribution, some have questioned the 23-year-old talisman's Ballon d'Or nomination given that he endured an 18-game goal drought in 2024-25, one that only ended against a Liverpool team that were at less than 100 percent having already won the title.
However, considering that trophy wins are weighted heavily in terms of making the shortlist, the fact that Palmer also helped the club lift the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup trophies in recent months is certain to have played a major part in his inclusion.
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