With the 2024/25 Season starting, players’ performances now count towards the Ballon D’Or for 2025, and it’s now time for me to rank the favourites for the award, very, very early into the season, mind you, and while these rankings will probably mean nothing for the final rankings, it’s interesting to see who’s started the season well enough to put their names forward for the award. Let’s see it, then.
10: Kevin de Bruyne
Man City
Belgium
AM
33
1G/1A
Leading us off is a player who, once again, looks like the key piece for a Premier League-best Man City. After having himself a slow start against Chelsea, he put together a trademark masterclass against Ipswich, scoring the one goal and assist he’s had this season, put together with another great game against West Ham that saw him make 6 key passes, and we’re back to seeing the de Bruyne we know, and love. (Unless you’re an Arsenal fan)
9: Joao Neves
PSG
Portugal
CM
19
0G/4A
While PSG didn’t get their proper Kylian Mbappe replacement this summer, it seems as if they’ve got a Marco Verratti replacement. After Manu Ugarte disappointed and left to United this summer after only a year in Paris, the club were getting concerned, but Neves has lived up to the hype, and more importantly, the 60m price tag, with so far 4 assists in PSG’s opening 3 matches, all of which being wins. Very promising start for the 19-year old.
8: Mason Greenwood
Marseille
England
RW
22
5G/0A
Let me be clear here – I don’t support Mason Greenwood at all. I don’t even think he should be playing football, and I hope he’s mended his ways and Harriet is okay, despite the low chance of that actually being the case. That being said, 5 goals in 3 games to go along with 2 wins and a draw with Marseille is enough to get him a surprise spot on this list. Moving on.
7: Lamine Yamal
Barcelona
Spain
RW
17
1G/4A
At just the age of 17, the last official game where Lamine Yamal failed to score or assist was 9 games ago against Albania, the young man is off to a flyer already this year. At 5 goal contributions in 4 matches, he’s already halved the G/A tally he achieved last year in La Liga, and even if he doesn’t improve from the skill level he’s at right now, he’s already one of the best in the world. It’s yet to be seen whether injuries will hamper him, whether it’s just a purple patch, or if this Yamal is here to stay, and maybe even get better. It is not normal for him to be doing this at his age.
6: Marcus Thuram
Inter
France
ST
27
4G/0A
Another surprise inclusion, Marcus Thuram has been great so far for an Inter team that is looking to get their third Serie A in 5 seasons. 4 goals makes him the league’s top scorer so far, and perhaps this is the season we start to see him fulfill the huge potential promised of him in the past. Really good start from him so far.
5: Bradley Barcola
PSG
France
LW
22
4G/0A
Having watched Barcola at times last season, I saw some incredible potential coming out of this young French forward, and he’s really showing it this season. Once again with 4 goals, in a PSG team that has to step up attacking-wise without Mbappe as their bail-out option. With 3 wins to boot with the 4 goals, Barcola has certainly looked like a new player this year, and hopefully he can continue this form.
4: Robert Lewandowski
Barcelona
Poland
ST
36
4G/0A
If there’s anyone who would be able to get the best out of Robert Lewandowski in his final seasons at the top level, it seemingly would be Hansi Flick, the same man who saw the Polish striker perform so well that he’d have been a lock for the 2020 Ballon D’Or had it not been unfairly cancelled, and who was also inches away from winning it in 2021 as well. Flick has got the best out of him, clearly, with 4 goals in his first 4 matches of the season, all victories, and it could be upwards of 10 goals if Lewandowski still had the same clinicality he had in 2020 and 2021. Great start nonetheless, however.
3: Mo Salah
Liverpool
Egypt
RW
32
3G/3A
Seemingly, the world either forgot or got bored of Mohamed Salah, because he hadn’t been talked about nearly as much as he should have been in recent years, for a player who is still one of the top forwards in England, and will be remembered as likely a top 10 forward in Premier League history. I’ll tell you, they’re not bored now. With 6 G/A in 3 matches, Mo Salah has started this season incredibly and reminded the world that he’s still here, and as good as ever. He’s put a perfect Liverpool side on his back in the first 3 matches, with the Reds scoring only one goal this season that the Egyptian hasn’t directly contributed in. A superb start for a superb player.
2: Raphinha
Barcelona
Brazil
LW
27
3G/2A
However, I think Raphinha’s start has slightly outdone Salah’s. In his first two seasons since signing for FC Barcelona, Raphinha has shown that he is capable of being a player among the best in the world, repeatedly putting up some incredible performances, but just not being able to do it consistently. However, consistency has been the keyword for Raphinha in his first 4 matches of the season. All 4 matches he’s played have been incredible, with the Brazilian still running Barcelona’s 4-man attack even when he isn’t directly involved in any goals. He’s been the catalyst for Barcelona’s unbelievable start to 24/25, with the club winning all 4 matches, and putting the world on notice for their return to the top of football after a 7-0 romping of Valladolid, in which Raphinha scored a hat-trick and bagged an assist.
1: Erling Haaland
Man City
Norway
ST
24
7G/0A
You can’t look past 7 goals in 3 matches. The Erling Haaland we’ve gotten used to after his first two seasons at Man City is here once more, and is on track to break every scoring record we’ve ever seen. Of course, he won’t keep up this level of scoring, but he sure will keep on scoring. He’s scored 7 of City’s 9 goals so far, and certainly, barring a major injury, could have his best season yet. I can’t wait to see how the Norwegian does this year.
That does it for my first power rankings of the Ballon D’Or 2025, I’ll try to make this a monthly series, so we’ll see you again in September for the next one. I’m Jim James, until next time.