Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has surged into second place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, according to Goal.

Last year marked a historic shift, as neither Lionel Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo were nominated for the first time since 2003. In their absence, Manchester City’s Rodri claimed the prestigious award, edging out Vinícius Jr.

This year, Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah is the frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or, thanks to his sensational form. The Egyptian winger is on the brink of securing the Premier League title with Liverpool, who currently lead Arsenal by 13 points with just 12 matches remaining.

Salah has been unstoppable, delivering his best-ever season with 30 goals and 22 assists across all competitions—more goal contributions than any player in Europe’s top five leagues. With Liverpool also in contention for the Champions League, his claim to the Ballon d’Or grows stronger.

Meanwhile, Mbappe has found his rhythm in Spain after a slow start at Real Madrid. Despite going goalless in his first three league games, he has exploded into form, netting 28 goals and closing in on Iván Zamorano’s record for most goals in a debut season for Madrid.

The current Ballon d’Or top five rankings are:

1. Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool)
2. Kylian Mbappe (France, Real Madrid)
3. Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
4. Raphinha (Brazil, Barcelona)
5. Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)

With the season nearing its climax, the race for football’s most coveted individual prize is heating up! Stay tuned for more updates.