As the Club World Cup continues in the U.S., the football world is already deep in speculation about who will win the 2025 Ballon d’Or. The usual suspects have dominated the early conversations Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Ousmane Dembélé but now, TNT Sports has thrown a major curveball into the debate.
The American network has named Vitinha as the top contender to win football’s most prestigious individual award a move that has caught many off guard.
A Season to Remember for Vitinha
While fans of Barcelona will argue strongly for Lamine Yamal, and PSG supporters back Dembélé’s case after the Champions League win, Vitinha’s name has suddenly risen with serious weight.
And rightly so.
The Portuguese midfielder played a key role in PSG’s treble-winning campaign lifting Ligue 1, the French Cup, and most significantly, the UEFA Champions League, where he helped control the final against Inter Milan.
But his success didn’t stop at club level. Vitinha was also central to Portugal’s Nations League triumph, adding another major trophy to his 2024/25 season.
More importantly, he wasn’t just present he was crucial. His consistency, creativity, and composure were foundational to both club and country. That mix of team trophies and standout performances could be enough to push him ahead of more well-known names in the final Ballon d’Or tally.
The Usual Favorites Still in the Race
Of course, the race isn’t over.
Mbappé ended the season as Europe’s top scorer, winning both the Golden Boot and La Liga’s Pichichi, but his team success hasn’t matched his personal stats. Real Madrid had a bumpy season under transition, and Mbappé’s recent hospitalization with gastroenteritis has ruled him out of crucial Club World Cup matches dimming his final chance to sway voters. Lamine Yamal had a breakout season with Barcelona, helping the team secure a domestic double (La Liga + Copa del Rey), and he continues to gain praise as the future of world football. Still, his lack of a Champions League trophy may count against him in the final vote. Dembélé, meanwhile, played a major role in PSG’s European success and may still hold a slight edge based on his performances throughout the Champions League campaign.
The Final Verdict Comes in September
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set for September 22, and performances at the Club World Cup could still shift the narrative. For now, though, Vitinha has emerged as a shock frontrunner, and if momentum continues to build, he may just claim the golden prize ahead of football’s biggest stars.
With a treble under his belt and growing influence at both club and international level, Vitinha might just be football’s next unexpected Ballon d’Or winner.
