Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has surged into second place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, according to Goal.
With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo absent from last year’s nominations for the first time since 2003, Manchester City’s Rodri claimed the award ahead of Vinícius Jr.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah currently leads the race for this year’s title. The Egyptian forward has been in phenomenal form, scoring 30 goals and providing 22 assists across all competitions. With Liverpool poised to win the Premier League and in contention for the Champions League, Salah remains the frontrunner.
Mbappe, after a slow start at Real Madrid, has hit top form with 28 goals so far, closing in on Iván Zamorano’s record for most goals in a debut season at the club.
The top five is rounded out by Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain), Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil), and Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England).