There are five months remaining until the 2025 Ballon d’Or award is handed out, but legendary Italian coach Fabio Capello has already revealed his top three picks for the prestigious individual accolade.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s Raphinha currently lead GiveMeSport’s Ballon d’Or Power Rankings. The France and Brazil wingers have enjoyed magnificent seasons with their clubs and stand an excellent chance of making the podium.
However, Capello surprisingly wouldn’t place either Dembele or Raphinha in his top three, as things stand. The former England manager’s picks certainly have the potential to raise a few eyebrows.
Capello’s Top Three For 2025 Ballon d’Or
Lamine Yamal currently gets the veteran tactician’s vote
While Lamine Yamal was unable to drag Barcelona through to this season’s Champions League final, despite his best efforts against Inter Milan in the semi-finals, the 17-year-old is currently Capello’s pick for the Ballon d’Or. If the Spain international is crowned the winner on October 27, he would smash Ronaldo Nazario’s long-standing record to become the youngest Ballon d’Or winner in football history.
The sensational Lamine Yamal, who is already being hailed by many as the world’s best footballer, turns 18 on July 13. Brazilian Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or in 1997 when he was aged 21 years, three months and five days.
Capello claims he would vote Lamine Yamal as his winner, followed by Real Madrid duo Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe. Vinicius and everyone associated with Real Madrid were angered after missing out on the 2024 Ballon d’Or to Manchester City’s Rodri, but the Brazilian’s chances of winning the award this year have been significantly hampered after Los Blancos were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Arsenal.
| Lamine Yamal vs Vinicius Jr vs Mbappe (2024-25 Stats) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | |
| Lamine Yamal | 52 | 16 | 24 |
| Vinicius Jr | 50 | 20 | 16 |
| Kylian Mbappe | 52 | 38 | 4 |
Real Madrid are also set to finish as runners-up to Barcelona in the La Liga race after losing last weekend’s Clasico 4-3, reducing Vinicius Jr’s chances of winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or further. Xabi Alonso is expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti, who will become Brazil’s new head coach, as Real Madrid manager at the end of the season.
Nevertheless, Capello would still place Vinicius Jr and Mbappe on his Ballon d’Or podium behind Lamine Yamal. Speaking to El Partidazo de COPE, per Mundo Deportivo, Capello said:
“For the Ballon d’Or, I would vote Lamine Yamal. My votes would be: Vinicius, Mbappe, and first, Lamine Yamal.”
Capello Can’t Compare Lamine Yamal to Messi and Maradona
‘I don’t see the genius of a phenomenon in him’
Although Lamine Yamal is Capello’s early choice for the Ballon d’Or, the teenager is still yet to convince the 78-year-old that he belongs in the same conversion as Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. He added:
“Lamine Yamal is a player with a lot of quality and great potential to improve, but I don’t see the genius of a phenomenon in him. Messi or Maradona did things no one could even imagine, and right now I can’t compare him to them.”
Capello elaborated: “I’m not talking about numbers, I’m talking about quality and genius. [Cristiano] Ronaldo is a formidable player… And how many goals has he scored? More than anyone. But he can’t be Messi or Maradona.”