The Ballon d'Or award was not officially given in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but leaked voting results show that Robert Lewandowski was considered the winner for that year. He was followed by Kevin De Bruyne and Sadio Mane in the rankings. Lewandowski, who played for Bayern Munich at the time, won the Champions League that year, making him a strong candidate for the honor.
For 2025, the current leading candidates based on recent season performance and expert power rankings are Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) and Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), with a broader list including players like Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, and Kylian Mbappe. The 2024 winner was Rodri from Spain, but due to injury, he is unlikely to defend his title, which opens the field for a new champion in 2025.
In summary:
- 2020's de facto winner by leaked voting: Robert Lewandowski.
- 2025 top contenders likely include Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Mohamed Salah, and others, with the award ceremony coming up later this year.
