Ballon d’Or 2025: Hours to Go, Leaks Spark Debate Ahead of Official Announcement

With just hours remaining before the official unveiling of the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner, speculation and debate are reaching fever pitch. The race for football’s most prestigious individual honor appears unusually open, particularly in the wake of last season’s shocks.

Over the weekend, a supposed ranking list circulated on social media, claiming to reveal the final order of nominees. The leaked list placed Barcelona winger Raphinha at the top, followed by Ousmane Dembélé and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. The top ten also featured big names from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, fueling heated discussions among fans and pundits alike.

However, respected French journalist sources quickly moved to dismiss the list as unreliable. Posting on X, one insider stressed that the leaked table was “pure speculation” and insisted the true outcome will remain secret until the ceremony in Paris.

The journalist also criticized the spread of such leaks, warning that they risk damaging the credibility of the Ballon d’Or and unnecessarily heightening emotions before the official reveal. Instead, he urged fans to wait for the moment the envelope is opened.

As anticipation builds, one thing is certain: the battle for this year’s Ballon d’Or is far from over. Only the final announcement will confirm whether the leaked rankings were wild guesswork—or a hint of what’s to come.