Harry Kane edged out Kylian Mbappe to win the 2025 Ballon d'Or by just 28 points, the smallest winning margin in almost a decade. The England and Bayern Munich striker topped the voting with 1055 points, while Mbappe finished second with 1027.
Kane, the odds-on favourite, was crowned at a ceremony at the London Palladium last week, with Alexia Putellas taking the women's award. The voting totals, initially withheld, have now been released, revealing the tightness of the men's race.
Voting Breakdown and Key Margins
The 100 journalists selected by France Football awarded Kane 1055 points. Lamine Yamal finished third with 881 points, 174 behind the winner. Mbappe's second place is his best career finish in the Ballon d'Or, surpassing his third-place showing in 2023.
According to L'Equipe, three of the voting journalists did not include Mbappe in their top ten. Kane's margin of victory is the narrowest since Lionel Messi's 686 points edged Virgil van Dijk's 679 seven years ago.
Women's Award and Full Rankings
The women's ranking was less competitive. Putellas, honoured for her work with Barcelona and now with London City Lionesses, beat Ewa Pajor by 86 points, with 50 journalists voting. Putellas received 618 points to Pajor's 532.
The full men's top ten: Harry Kane 1055, Kylian Mbappe 1027, Lamine Yamal 881, Rodri 726, Lionel Messi 612, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 541, Ousmane Dembele 418, Erling Haaland 378, Michael Olise 296, Fabian Ruiz 201.
The women's top ten: Alexia Putellas 618, Ewa Pajor 532, Khadija Shaw 344, Melchie Dumornay 342, Patri Guijarro 221, Caroline Graham Hansen 220, Pernille Harder 220, Claudia Pina 155, Alessia Russo 155, Temwa Chawinga 113.
