On July 15 (KST), the football content outlet announced that Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) has surpassed Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) to claim the No. 1 spot.

The reshuffling follows the conclusion of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, where Dembélé’s commanding performance helped PSG secure a runner-up finish. Despite missing out on the title, the French winger has had a banner year, contributing to four major trophies for PSG—including Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who had previously led the rankings, now sits at second. Yamal was instrumental in Barcelona’s domestic treble, delivering 18 goals and 25 assists across 55 matches—a phenomenal output for a teenager. Despite this, the recent Club World Cup outcome appears to have slightly dented his lead in the Ballon d’Or race.

Here’s how the top 10 currently stands:

  1. Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
  2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
  3. Pedri (Barcelona)
  4. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
  5. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
  6. Raphinha (Barcelona)
  7. Vitinha (PSG)
  8. Nuno Mendes (PSG)
  9. Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
  10. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)

The top 20 remains dominated by stars from Europe’s elite clubs. Among them, Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) is the sole representative from the Bundesliga, currently ranked 15th.

Notably absent from the top tier is Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, who led Spain to victory at Euro 2024 and powered Manchester City’s dominance. His dip in form or lower team visibility may explain the slide down in this year’s early projections.

As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will remain on Dembélé and Yamal, whose performances could shape the narrative of football’s most coveted individual award. With months still to go, the Ballon d’Or race is far from over—and the rankings could yet change again.