The buzz around the Ballon d'Or 2025 is louder than a Champions League final. Bookmakers have placed Ousmane Dembélé at a sizzling 1/3, while Barcelona’s 16‑year‑old wizard Lamine Yamal is priced at 9/4. Not far behind sits Raphinha, the ex‑Leeds winger, at 10/1 and a solid third in the latest power rankings.
How the Power Rankings Work
These rankings aren’t just guesswork. Analysts tally up each player’s season stats – goals, assists, clean sheets for defenders – and then add a few softer factors. Trophy hunts, clutch moments in big games and overall consistency all get a score.
Think of it like a points system that tries to capture a player’s impact over the entire 2024/25 campaign, not just a flash‑in‑the‑pan performance.

Raphinha’s Path from Leeds to Barcelona
Raphinha’s climb started at Elland Road, where his speed and flair made him a fan favourite. A 2022 move to the Catalan giants gave him a bigger stage, and he hasn’t looked back. In his first season he helped Barcelona clinch the La Liga title, adding several crucial assists and a handful of goals that turned tight matches in their favor.
Internationally, he’s been a regular for Brazil, adding to his résumé with a Copa América semi‑final goal. Those moments keep his name in the conversation when the award shortlist drops.
Below is the current top‑10 list that the ranking panel released:
- 1. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
- 2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- 3. Raphinha (Barcelona)
- 4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
- 5. Desire Doué (PSG)
- 6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
- 7. Vitinha (PSG)
- 8. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
- 9. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
- 10. Pedri (Barcelona)
While Dembélé remains the bookmakers’ favorite thanks to his dramatic performances for PSG, the race is anything but settled. Yamal’s teenage hype is strong, but Raphinha’s consistency gives him a realistic shot at joining the elite few who have lifted the trophy.
Fans will be watching every match of the season’s final stretch, because a single goal or assist could swing the odds dramatically. For now, Raphinha’s blend of experience and flair keeps him firmly in the conversation, proving that a move from a mid‑table English club to a European powerhouse can still pay off in the biggest personal accolade in football.