The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or became clearer at the end of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, July 13.

Chelsea stunned favourites Paris Saint-Germain to win the inaugural edition of the restructured competition.

Cole Palmer scored twice and set up Joao Pedro to score a third inside a rampant first half at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

The win went against the script and pre-match talk of PSG running the show and following up their European success on the global stage.

The competition was the last one in an extremely long 2024/2025 season, which means that Ballon d'Or voters have everything they need.

We take a look at how the vote could possibly go later this year.

Mohamed Salah was a strong early favourite for the 2025 award thanks to his outstanding performance in the first half of the season.

However, the shock exit to PSG in the Champions League Round of 16 all but ended his chances.

Nonetheless, the Egyptian King went on to record one of the best individual performances in history, finishing the season with 34 goals and 23 assists.

His absence at the Club World Cup won't help his chances.

Raphinha was arguably the most improved player this season.

Apart from Lamine Yamal's dazzling feet and Robert Lewandowski's ageless presence, Raphinha was at the centre of everything Hansi Flick did in his first season at Barcelona.

The former Leeds United man finished the season with 34 goals and 25 assists, the most of anyone in Europe's top-five leagues.

Raphinha was on course to win his first Golden Ball, but the Champions League semi-final exit to Inter Milan will severely hurt his chances.

Lamine Yamal only recently turned of legal age, but in his minor days, he had defences on tenterhooks all season long.

He finished the season with 18 goals and 25 assists in a season where Barcelona won the domestic treble.

He shone in the Champions League, scoring important goals along the way, but could not help his side past Inter Milan.

The La Masia graduate had an opportunity to rubberstamp his credentials by winning the UEFA Nations League, but they lost to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.

Like Raphinha, their absence at the Club World Cup will hurt their chances.

The diminutive Portuguese star has been the brains behind this PSG superteam under Luis Enrique.

So much so that when he was marked out of play like Chelsea did in the Club World Cup final, the Parisians appeared far from their best.

The reigning holder, Rodri, had similar characteristics for Manchester City, setting the tempo by spraying passes from deep.

Players like Vitinha don't provide much upfront, but they are the glue that makes the team tick. He ended the season with eight goals and five assists.

He was an integral part of PSG's treble-winning season before following that up by winning the UEFA Nations League with Portugal.

A precedent was already set with the Rodri triumph last year; it might as well be within reach for the 25-year-old.

Ousmane Dembele appeared to have had the Ballon d'Or wrapped up after starring in the Champions League final.

Only another close contender putting in a strong performance in the United States could have hurt his chances, but luckily for him, none came close.

So, despite the final loss to Chelsea, Dembele is on course to win the award after a record-breaking individual season that saw him score 35 goals and set up 16 assists. It is his to lose.

All stats and figures are courtesy of Transfermarkt.com.

Source: TUKO.co.ke