As the Ballon d'Or nominees are revealed this week, we take a look at the latest odds and make predictions on who the 2025 winner will be.
It's not long now until we find out who will be crowned Ballon d'Or winner for 2025, as this year's nominees are set to be revealed.
There has been much debate over this for months, with a number of candidates leading the way in the betting. Ousmane Dembele and Lamine Yamal have been talked about most, but could we see a surprise winner this year?
As the nominees are revealed later this week and the winner is revealed in September, now is the time to take a good look at the current odds as we offer predictions on who could emerge as the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner.
Ballon d'Or Odds
Currently, PSG winger Dembele is the bookies' favourite to win the Ballon d'Or, with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal the second favourite.
Dembele is best priced at 1/4 at various bookmakers, while you can get Yamal to win 5/1. After these two contenders, the betting is fairly open with PSG midfielder Vitinha the next candidate at 12/1 with bet365.
| Ballon d'Or Winner | Best Odds | Bookmaker | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ousmane Dembele | 1/4 | bet365 | 80% |
| Lamine Yamal | 5/1 | Unibet | 16.7% |
| Vitinha | 12/1 | bet365 | 7.7% |
| Achraf Hakimi | 25/1 | BetMGM | 3.8% |
| Fabian Ruiz | 25/1 | bet365 | 3.8% |
| Raphinha | 25/1 | William Hill | 3.8% |
| Mohamed Salah | 33/1 | BetVictor | 2.8% |
- Ousmane Dembele is the bookmakers' favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Check the latest Ballon d'Or odds here.
- Achraf Hakimi has taken the second most bets through oddschecker this month but can still be backed at 25/1 on bet365. Claim the latest bet365 sign up offer here.
- The 2024 winner was Rodri for Man City - 7/2 third favourites to win the 2025/26 Premier League.
- Lamine Yamal is second favourite to win the Ballon d'Or. Barcelona are third favourites to win the Champions League.
Who Won the Ballon d'Or Last Season?
Rodri claimed the 2024 Ballon d'Or after a dominant campaign for Manchester City, playing a pivotal role in their Premier League and Champions League triumphs. The Spanish midfielder edged out fierce competition from the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, thanks to his consistency and big-game performances.
How to Bet on the Ballon d'Or Winner
Betting on the Ballon d'Or is simple, with most major bookmakers offering outright winner markets throughout the year. You can back your pick at any time, with odds now unlikely to change too much with the winner being announced before much football is played in the new season.
You can check the latest Ballon d'Or winner odds here, and claim the best Ballon d'Or betting offers here.
Who has Won the Ballon d'Or the Most Times?
Former Barcelona and PSG forward Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d'Or a record eight times. He’s followed by Cristiano Ronaldo, who has claimed the award five times.
Their dominance over the past two decades has set a high bar for the current crop of stars — many of whom are still chasing their first. With Messi now playing in the MLS and Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, a new era of winners is emerging.
Ballon d'Or Winners by Year
Here's a quick look at some of the most recent Ballon d'Or winners, and the clubs they played at the time:
- 2024 - Rodri (Manchester City)
- 2023 - Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- 2022 - Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
- 2021 - Lionel Messi (PSG)
- 2020 - N/A
- 2019 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
- 2018 - Luka Modric (Real Madrid)
- 2017 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
- 2016 - Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
- 2015 - Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
How Much Money do you get if you win the Ballon d'Or?
Interestingly, there’s no direct cash prize for winning the Ballon d'Or itself, as the award is a symbol of individual excellence rather than a financial reward.
However, many top-level contracts include performance bonuses, and a Ballon d'Or win can trigger endorsement deals, salary increases, or renewed negotiations. The commercial value of a winner can skyrocket overnight.
When are the 2025 Ballon d'Or Nominees Announced?
The 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees will be announced on Thursday, August 7, with the committee having met following the conclusion of the FIFA World Club Cup to discuss potential candidates.
