Gareth Bale will be regretting his pick for the 2025 Ballon d'Or after some standout performances at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.
The race for the 2025 Ballon d'Or has been one of the most open in recent history, with Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele, Mo Salah, and Raphinha all looking like the favourite at different stages.
The added competition of the Nations League and Club World Cup have made things particularly interesting, with players having more matches than ever to make their case.
With Ballon d'Or talk dominating the headlines throughout the season, many current and ex-pros have weighed in with their chosen player.
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Back in November, Bale who is a Club World Cup pundit for DAZN predicted the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner during an interview with TNT Sports, and he may be keen to change his answer.
Asked by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand for his winner, Bale didn't hesitate and replied: "[Kylian] Mbappe."
Mbappe currently sits as a 33/1 outsider to collect this year's award after Real Madrid went trophyless domestically despite 44 goals in all competitions.
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The Frenchman may have seen the Club World Cup as an opportunity to relaunch his bid for the award but made just one start after falling ill during the tournament.
Madrid were dumped out of the competition in embarrassing fashion by Champions League winners PSG who claimed their place in the final against Chelsea with a 4-0 win.
Dembele grabbed a goal and assist which has tightened his grip even more on the Ballon d'Or after standout performances for the Parisians, with the winger a 1/8 favourite.
Full Ballon d'Or odds via Bet365
Ousmane Dembele- 1/8
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Lamine Yamal- 11/2
Ferreira Vitinha- 8/1
Achraf Hakimi- 25/1
Fabian Ruiz- 25/1
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Kylian Mbappe- 33/1
Despite looking set to miss out on yet another Ballon d'Or, Mbappe has remained confident he will get his hands on football's more prestigious individual award at some point.
"Which top trophy is left for me? The Champions League, that’s why I’m at the best club," he told Canal+.
"And the Euros, and why not make it to the Olympics one day? Individual trophies count too, like the Ballon d’Or.
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"I know what I have to do to win it, a lot of things on and off the field. When I do everything I need to do to win it, I will win it."
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Gareth Bale, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Football, FIFA Club World Cup
Tom Jenkins