Football legends Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards have shared their predictions for the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner.
According to the trio, the prestigious individual award could be claimed by either Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah or Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr., both of whom they believe are the leading contenders for the 2025 title.
Despite ongoing contract talks at Anfield, Salah has continued to perform at an exceptional level. This season alone, the Egyptian international has scored 26 goals and provided 18 assists in 34 appearances across all competitions, helping Liverpool stay at the top of both the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League standings.
Vinicius, meanwhile, has maintained his strong form from last season, contributing 16 goals and 11 assists in 30 appearances for Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or caused controversy, with many feeling Vinicius was unfairly overlooked when Spain’s Rodri was awarded the title in Paris. However, with Vinicius on track to surpass his performances from last season, Salah’s dazzling form has kept him firmly in the race for the 2025 award.
During CBS Sports’ coverage of the Real Madrid vs. Manchester City match at the Etihad, presenter Kate Abdo asked the pundit trio for their thoughts on the 2025 Ballon d’Or race.
Carragher was quick to respond, saying, “Mohamed Salah!” Henry agreed, adding, “I’m with Jamie, yeah, if he keeps going like that.”
Richards, while acknowledging his friendship with Vinicius, also leaned towards Salah, saying, “He (Vinicius) is my mate, but probably Salah as well.”
Henry, a former Arsenal goal-scoring machine, noted that team success could also play a significant role in the final outcome, adding, “It depends on what they will win.”
