The Ballon d'Or race has taken another twist after an AI model predicted the winner of the 2025 award and rated the other contenders’ chances of winning.

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal are the leading favourites to win the award this year.

Dembele was pivotal for PSG winning four trophies last season, including their first-ever UEFA Champions League, thus earning him a favourite label.

Yamal, 17, was a standout performer for Hansi Flick’s side as they dominated rivals Real Madrid to complete the domestic treble in Spain.

The France international had an opportunity to make himself the clear favourite at the FIFA Club World Cup, but had a rather quiet outing as PSG lost to Chelsea in the final.

Barcelona did not qualify for the Club World Cup because they did not win the Champions League between 2021 and 2025, and were not the top two Spanish teams on UEFA coefficient rankings.

AI predicts Ballon d'Or winner According to Foot Africa, an AI model by Score 90 has picked Dembele as the overwhelming favourite to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or with a 63% chance.

Yamal was given a 13% chance of winning, while Vitinha and Mohamed Salah were rated third and fourth with 6% and 5% chances of winning.

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Champions League top scorer and top assister Raphinha is 5th with a 5% chance, while Chelsea star Cole Palmer is 6th with a 4% chance of winning.

All other contenders do not have a statistical chance of winning the award and thus have been eliminated from the race.

ChatGPT predicts Ballon d'Or top 10

As reported by Tribuna, ChatGPT was prompted to make the top 10 finalists for the 2025 Ballon d'Or ahead of the award ceremony at Theatre du Châtelet on September 22, 2025.

Dembele yet again was backed to win the award after scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists in all competitions for treble winners PSG.

Spanish youngster Yamal now looks likely to finish second, with multiple predictions and AI putting him behind Dembele after an outstanding season.

Mohamed Salah, Raphinha and Kylian Mbappe are predicted to finish 3rd, 4th and 5th after brilliant individual seasons for Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Nuno Mendes, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Cole Palmer and Pedri make up the rest of the top 10 for varying reasons based on performance for their clubs.