The 2024-25 season is in the books – and it is fair to say that it did not follow the script completely.
And now the balloon d'Or is planned to follow the example.
If someone told you that Liverpool would win the Premier League in their “rebuilding” year under Arne Slot, few would have believed you.
And then there is Paris Saint-Germain who finally wins the Champions League after he has lost Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
Tottenham booked a Champions League spot by winning the Europa League -their 17 -year -old trophy -dried end -despite the end of the 17th in the Prem with a barely extensive 38 points.
Crystal Palace won their very first trophy, while Newcastle ended their 70-year waiting time on a large crown with Carabao Cup Glory.
So it only seems that in 2025 there will be a new balloon d'Or winner.
The Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo Duopoly was completely crumbled in the past year, with Rodri won the 2024 prize.
But with the Spaniard injured for a large part of the season and playing for a wild sub-par Manchester City, he is completely out of the running.
So 2025 will see a first victory for one of the top ten of Sunsport.
Spoiler Alert, PSG stars contain heavy, with only one Premier League star who makes the list …
10. Pedri – Barcelona
The Nou Camp Giants had a season to remember and seem to be well on their way to return to their best after a few difficult seasons, especially in the Champions League.
No longer the Wonderkid in the Barca team, Pedri, 22, has lost that title to the 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who consider many as the heir of the throne of Lionel Messi.
But the midfielder has quietly gone his business, achieving four goals and five assists in 37 Laliga matches on their way to the title and only misses one match.
He also played in all 14 Champions League matches-with as the highlight the Epic 7-6 aggregated loss for Inter Milan, perhaps the largest two-legged Champions League-equal game.
9. Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid
A season of frustration for the French superstar.
Mbappe, 26, stopped with PSG to end their 'galacticos' era once and for all … With his old side, immediately win one trophy that they had always avoided: the Champions League.
Los Blancos finished second in Laliga behind old rivals Barcelona, while he lost both the Copa del Rey and Supercopa the Espana Finals.
They made the quarterfinals of the Champions League before they lost from Arsenal.
On a personal level, Mbappe recovered from a slow start to show signs of its best form, and scored 43 goals in all competitions, including a hat trick in the 3-1 win over Man City.
8. Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan
A real 'almost' season for Inter Milan, it was a difficult for fans – and the club itself – to process.
On the one hand, they exceeded expectations. But on the other hand they were so close, but so far – second in the Serie A, second in the Champions League and Supercoppa Italiana and Semi finalists in the Coppa Italia.
Captain Martinez, 27, was the top scorer of the club with 22 goals in all competitions – crucial including nine strikes in his 14 Champions League performances, a huge factor in their fairy tale run to the final.
7. Gianluigi Donnarumma – PSG
The first participant in our top 10 of the Paris Giants and Champions League winners is the man between the sticks.
The 6ft 5 in Italian giant, 26, played in all 15 Champions League matches.
And his heroic versions between the sticks were an important gear in the long-suffering club that finally ended their European Cup-dried-especially in the semi-final victory over Arsenal.
After years of solid versions, the former AC Milan Stopper finally seems to be able to fulfill its potential as one of the best on the planet and perhaps the best European keepers.
6. Desire Done – PSG
A relatively unknown among casual fans before this season, Doue has been an absolute revelation.
The young winger, 19, played this season in 16 Champions League matches and scored five times – including two in the final to kill the match.
It is inevitable that Talk soon moved to a “new Messi-Ronaldo” rivalry between Doue and Yamal.
It may be a bit early there, but both are certainly looking for Ballon d'Or after the sparkling seasons of this season.
5. KHVICA KVARATSKHELIA
What a year for the Georgian star …
The 24-year-old was part of the Napoli team that won the Serie A-title until January, when he moved to a PSG side that won the Ligue 1, Champions League, Coupe de France and Trophy des Champions Fourfold.
Domestic trophies are not new for PSG and 2024-25 will be reminded forever as the season that they have won their very first Champions League.
Kvaratskhelia played a crucial role in that, playing in nine Champions League matches only since January, which contributes to five goals on the way to Glorie, including his strike in the final.
4. Raphinha – Barcelona
At a certain moment the former Leedsman looked like he was going to crush the record of Cristiano Ronaldo of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Although he fails, the Brazilian winger, 28, contributed to 21 goals in just 14 Champions League matches.
Raphinha was also involved in 27 goals in 36 Laliga matches when Barcelona won the title.
It was a season for the winger, who was the top favorite for the Ballon d'On long ago.
3. Mo Salah – Liverpool
A real sensational season for the Egyptian superstar.
Salah, 32, was on track to erase the score record of Premier League before his hot streak cooled.
Nevertheless, the winger contributed to 47 Premier League goals when Liverpool won their record-nesting 20th top-flight Kroon.
He won the Golden Boot with 29 goals – which means that he has now won a joint record four times.
Salah also contributed to seven goals in nine Champions League matches, because the Reds won the very first 32-team group phase and reached the quarterfinals before lost to final champions, PSG.
2. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
We have heard the term “Messi rain” earlier … with Ansu Fati.
And although that may not be completely out of it, it is impossible to think that Yamal is not intended for Superstardom.
Yamal was only 17 years old and was involved in 22 Laliga goals in 35 outings when Barcelona won the title, with another eight involvement in the Champions League.
He is the youngest player who reaches 100 competitive matches for Barcelona and at this pace he could crush a whole series of records before his career is ready.
Brazilian legend Ronaldo currently has the record for the youngest Ballon d'Or winner, 21 years old in 1997.
Before that, George was the youngest at the age of 29.
If Yamal wins this year, he will set a record that will probably never be broken.
Anyway, you would certainly not bet that he would break the record in the coming seasons …
1. Ousmane Dembele – PSG
In the absence of Mbappe, PSG would always trust his fellow Fransman to act and be the attacking leader.
And while the addition of Kvaratskhelia and the rise of Doue has been a huge boost, Dembele is undoubtedly the NO1 threat in the Luis Enrique team.
Dembele was involved in 14 goals in 15 Champions League matches on the way to a historic title, while scored 21 times in 29 Ligue 1 matches, with another six assists.
In total, the attacker scored 33 goals in the four -fold campaign on his side – and places him in pole position for the Ballon d'Or … for now.