Gareth Bale could regret his pick for 2025 Ballon d'Or as new odds emerge for football's top prize

Gareth Bale could end up regretting his pick for the 2025 Ballon d'Or as a new frontrunner emerged following another impressive display in the Champions League.

For much of the season, Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has been one of the standout contenders for the Ballon d'Or trophy, which will be handed out at a ceremony in Paris on October 27.

Salah, who is currently the Premier League's top scorer with 27 goals, continues to shine for Arne Slot's side as they inch closer to the league title with seven games remaining.

But after the Reds were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain last month, a number of players have overtaken Salah in the Ballon d'Or race, including new bookies favourite Raphinha.

The 28-year-old, who joined Barcelona from Leeds in 2022 for £55 million, scored his 32nd goal of the season on Wednesday as the Catalan side recorded a 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

In fact, after his latest performance, Raphinha is currently the bookies favourite for the Ballon d'Or at 6/5, according to Oddschecker, less than three years ago after he helped Leeds avoid Premier League relegation.

Salah, meanwhile, is the joint-second favourite alongside Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal, who has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season.

2025 Ballon d'Or winner odds in full:

Raphinha - 6/5

Mohamed Salah - 5/1

Lamine Yamal - 5/1

Ousmane Dembele - 6/1

Kylian Mbappe - 7/1

Robert Lewandowski - 8/1

Pedri - 14/1

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 20/1

Vinicius Jr - 40/1

Jude Bellingham - 50/1

Raphinha has been one of Barcelona's standout performers this season. Image credit: Getty

Back in November, former Los Blancos winger Gareth Bale predicted the next Ballon d'Or winner during an interview with TNT Sports.

Asked by former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand for his winner, Bale replied: "[Kylian] Mbappe."

Madrid are currently 3-0 down in their Champions League quarter-final clash against Arsenal. If they are knocked out, then Mbappe's chances of lifting the Ballon d'Or for the first time would drop significantly.

But the Frenchman recently predicted he will win the Ballon d'Or in the future.

"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.

"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."