Liverpool's seven-point transfer to-do list despite £170m spree

Seven Euros selection calls Wiegman still needs to make

When Kaka's AC Milan smashed Boca Juniors 

Abdellah Ouazane: The Ajax academy gem stolen by Real Madrid

The six best transfer options for Rodrygo - ranked

Editors' Picks

Real Madrid vs Al Hilal: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Pachuca vs Salzburg: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Manchester City vs Wydad Casablanca: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Monterrey vs Inter: Stream, TV channels & where to watch

Seat Unique names founding partner of Hill Dickinson Stadium 

Man City outcast Walker reassured over pace questions & future

Newlyweds Dyer & Bowen do not fear famous Strictly ‘curse’

Man City warned off transfer gamble on free agent Pogba 

Before the Women's Champions League final kicked off in early June, the winner of this year's Ballon d'Or Feminin was by no means set in stone, but there were a few candidates from Barcelona who felt like front-runners - a status they could only enhance by leading the Catalans to victory over Arsenal. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-women-player-ratings-barcelona-champions-league-winners-super-subs-beth-mead-stina-blackstenius-combine-gunners-defensive-masterclass-european-glory/bltfcd9f807d4830075" target="_blank">The Gunners' surprise 1-0 win in Lisbon</a>, then, well and truly shook things up ahead of the European Championship.With Barca still achieving a domestic treble, their star names are by no means out of the running, but all the important football that will be played this summer - at the Euros, but also Copa America and the Africa Cup of Nations - suddenly feels even more significant when it comes to the Golden Ball, especially as those sorts of events tend to be valued highly by voters.So, who is in a good position to win this year's Ballon d'Or as the major tournaments prepare to kick off? GOAL takes a look at the contenders as things stand...<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Ballon d'Or Feminin Power Rankings: Alexia Putellas & Aitana Bonmati still lead the way in Golden Ball race with Euro 2025 set to begin

In 2024-25: One goal, two assists, 21 clean sheets. Won Women's Super League, FA Cup and League Cup.Chelsea captain Millie Bright was superb this past year, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-unstoppable-sonia-bompastor-getting-started-winners-losers-sandy-baltimore-fa-cup-final-treble-wembley-forget-man-utd-ella-toone/blt50889a168b5653d1" target="_blank">guiding the Blues to what is just a second-ever treble</a>. The England defender played a key role in the best defence in the WSL and she helped her team keep a clean sheet in the FA Cup final, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-women-player-ratings-man-utd-invincible-treble-winners-sandy-baltimore-inspires-blues-fa-cup-final-victory-uswnt-star-catarina-macario-makes-mark-wembley/blt29636181c023c66f" target="_blank">where victory sealed that third and final trophy</a>.However, somehow, she was snubbed in all the end of season awards in England, with Chelsea in general surprisingly under-represented despite their incredible domestic dominance. It hardly bodes well for Bright's chances of ranking highly in the Ballon d'Or voting, particularly with her also withdrawing from the Euros this summer, though she is still in contention to make the list.

Millie Bright (Chelsea) ⬇️

In 2024-25: 15 goals, 10 assists. Won Premiere Ligue.Lindsey Heaps was one of the stars of Lyon's season, carrying the momentum from her Olympic gold-winning summer into the 2024-25 campaign. No one provided more assists in the French top-flight this past term than the American, who finished fifth in last year's Ballon d'Or vote.The lack of a major tournament for the United States women's national team this year is, however, likely to impact her chances of another strong showing, as is Lyon's inability to pick up more than one trophy.

Lindsey Heaps (Lyon) ⬇️

In 2024-25: 14 goals, three assists. Won NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship.It's always difficult to predict just how the best players in the NWSL might fare in the Ballon d'Or voting, especially at this stage. The U.S. top flight only kicked off its 2025 season in March, but the latter stages of the 2024 campaign will also count towards the award, and Barbra Banda<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/pride-are-proud-orlando-claim-their-first-nwsl-championship-as-marta-claims-title-in-1-0-win-over-washington-spirit/blt13394e6e78476fa1" target="_blank"> helped the Orlando Pride win the NWSL Shield and the Championship at the end of last year.</a>Twelfth in the Golden Ball voting last time, that bid was boosted by the striker's exploits for Zambia, for whom she scored four goals in just three games at the Olympics. The Copper Queens crashed out in the group stages in Paris, but are likely to fare better at this summer's Africa Cup of Nations, which they reached the semi-finals of in 2022. A strong tournament will likely be needed to supercharge Banda's cause, with her NWSL form suggesting she is capable of having one.

Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride) ⬇️

In 2024-25: 18 goals, 11 assists. Won Premiere Ligue.It's hard to know whether Kadidiatou Diani will be in contention for this year's Ballon d'Or, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lionel-messi-naomi-girma-biggest-2024-ballon-dor-snubs-shortlists-announced/blt2b94fbe4a3683885" target="_blank">as she was spectacularly snubbed in the voting for the 2024 award</a>. She's certainly been doing her best to ensure that is not the case in 2025, but Lyon's Champions League semi-final exit will hamper her chances.Further hindering her bid is the fact that OL suffered an historic exit in the round of 32 of the French Cup, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lindsey-horan-lyon-suffer-earliest-coupe-de-france-exit-history-uswnt-star-shock-penalty-shootout-loss-reims/blte1706ec4b22e0aa3" target="_blank">losing 10-9 on penalties to Reims in a dramatic shootout</a>, so the only trophy the team picked up this season was in the league. Diani played a starring role in the title-clinching win over Paris Saint-Germain, though, and has another huge stage to shine on this summer with the Euros coming up.

Kadidiatou Diani (Lyon) ⬆️

In 2024-25: 24 goals, nine assists. Won Premiere Ligue.Until Lyon's shock Champions League exit at the hands of Arsenal, Melchie Dumornay felt like a genuine contender for the Ballon d'Or at age 21. The Haiti international was OL's best player all season long and even scored in both legs of their European semi-final, despite the team's disappointing defeat.She still deserves to receive votes for the Golden Ball this year but the fact Lyon were only able to win one trophy, plus Haiti's lack of a major tournament this summer, will stop her from getting on the podium. Watch this space, though; she feels set to win this one day - and soon.

Melchie Dumornay (Lyon) ⬇️

In 2024-25: 25 goals, nine assists. Won Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup.It's often difficult for players in the Frauen-Bundesliga to get nominated for the Ballon d'Or, and it's not going to be any easier this year, given both Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg crashed out at the quarter-final stage of the Women's Champions League. However, Pernille Harder had herself a truly outstanding season which helped Bayern clinch a domestic treble.The German champions retained their league title, lifted the German Super Cup and beat Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal final - with Harder at the heart of it all. A treble, combined with her wonderful stats, should be more than enough to put the Denmark captain onto the list of Golden Ball nominees. Only a really big summer at the Euros will propel her up the rankings, though.

Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich) ⬇️

In 2024-25: 30 goals, 10 assists. Won Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.No player scored more goals in the Champions League proper this past season than Claudia Pina. With 10 strikes in just nine games, the 23-year-old picked up the Golden Boot award - albeit, after losing the final. Pina started the game in Lisbon, something she's not always done in the competition this term, but she was unable to make a real impact as Barca fell to defeat.Those European contributions alone are likely to put her on the Ballon d'Or shortlist, as is a match-winning brace in the Copa de la Reina final and a solid Liga F campaign. Pina can further strengthen her case, though, at the Euros. She showed her game-changing qualities in a two-goal display in Spain's turnaround win over England last month and will hope to keep up that form in her country's colours in Switzerland.

Claudia Pina (Barcelona) ⬆️

In 2024-25: 15 goals, six assists. Won Women's Super League, FA Cup and League Cup.<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-unstoppable-sonia-bompastor-getting-started-winners-losers-sandy-baltimore-fa-cup-final-treble-wembley-forget-man-utd-ella-toone/blt50889a168b5653d1" target="_blank">Chelsea completed an incredible domestic treble this past season</a> and reached the last four of the Champions League - and yet, they lack obvious contenders for the Ballon d'Or. It's an award that often leans at least somewhat on name recognition as well as performances, and the Blues' biggest names were often hampered by injuries.However, Sandy Baltimore made her mark in enough big moments to be in with a shout. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-women-player-ratings-man-utd-blues-wsl-champions-again-lucy-bronze-header-secures-title-uswnt-star-naomi-girma-shows-why-one-of-world-best/blt1317d04742d1abbb" target="_blank">It was her corner that Lucy Bronze headed home to win the WSL title at Manchester United</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/chelsea-women-player-ratings-man-utd-invincible-treble-winners-sandy-baltimore-inspires-blues-fa-cup-final-victory-uswnt-star-catarina-macario-makes-mark-wembley/blt29636181c023c66f" target="_blank">she was then involved in all three goals in victory over the same opponent in the FA Cup final, scoring twice and assisting another</a>. With her set to go to the Euros with a fancied France this summer - one she continues to find the back of the net for - she has more time to stake her claim, too.

Sandy Baltimore (Chelsea) ⬆️

In 2024-25: 11 goals, 16 assists. Won Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.Patri Guijarro was incredible for Barcelona this past season, but it's not always easy for her to really grab the headlines. As a holding midfielder in such a star-studded squad, it is often others who get the plaudits, which is perhaps no surprise given she regularly starts in a midfield trio with two double-Ballon d'Or winners. However, her performances in the latter stages of the Champions League should have garnered attention, even if the competition didn't end in the triumph Barca wanted.That Guijarro has been nominated for this award before will certainly help, as will the remarkable numbers she has been putting up across competitions, despite her more conservative role. Take that form to this summer's Euros and she could be on for a highly-ranked finish in the Golden Ball voting.

Patri Guijarro (Barcelona) ↔️

In 2024-25: 51 goals, 16 assists. Won Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.Ewa Pajor has won votes for the Ballon d'Or in each of the last two years, but she's never really been up near the top of the list, ranking 18th in 2023 and 29th in 2024. That's likely to change in 2025, though. Pajor swapped Wolfsburg for Barcelona last summer and she has been banging in goals for the European champions like nobody else, playing a vital role in Barca's domestic treble and run to the Champions League final.That the 28-year-old is set to make her major tournament debut with Poland at this summer's Euros is another reason to feel good about her chances of ranking near the top of the list when it comes to the Ballon d'Or - though the unlikelihood of her country getting out of the group stage is a factor worth nothing.

Ewa Pajor (Barcelona) ↔️

In 2024-25: 17 goals, 14 assists. Won Champions League.Alessia Russo has had her fair share of critics over the years. The Arsenal forward is by no means a relentless goal-scorer and her off-the-ball work can go unappreciated. This past season, though, she thrived in both areas in a more balanced and devastating way than ever before. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-women-player-ratings-real-madrid-alessia-russo-two-goal-salvo-champions-league-semi-finals-insane-comeback-chloe-kelly-delivers/blt2ed5b50bd126d1cd" target="_blank">Her two-goal display in the Gunners' rousing Champions League comeback against Real Madrid was a perfect example of this</a> and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-women-player-ratings-lyon-gunners-champions-league-final-alessia-russo-mariona-caldentey-heroes-eight-time-champions-self-combust/blt42bfd1c477b97c99" target="_blank">she followed that up with a goal and an assist in the incredible semi-final win over Lyon</a>.Had Arsenal ended the season without a trophy, it may have been tough to see Russo get too many Ballon d'Or votes. However, that her exploits in Europe contributed to the Gunners' first continental title since 2007 makes a big difference. Given she's also set to be England's starting centre-forward for their Euros title defence this summer, she can further boost her Golden Ball bid in the international arena, too.

Alessia Russo (Arsenal) ↔️

In 2024-25: 20 goals, 14 assists. Won Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.Caroline Graham Hansen has been the subject of her fair share of Ballon d'Or snubs over the years. Some would argue that she should've been in contention to win the award in 2019, after a scintillating season for Wolfsburg was followed up by a superb World Cup. The same goes for 2021, when she was right up there with Alexia Putellas as a star performer in Barcelona's first Champions League triumph. On both occasions, she didn't even make the longlist.Last year, some justice was done. Graham Hansen placed second in the voting, just behind club-mate Bonmati. Yet, many believed the Norwegian was the more deserving victor. Bonmati herself even said as she accepted her award: "If Caro had won, I'd have been very happy, as she deserved it too."So, what about this year? Could Graham Hansen finally get her hands on the accolade? Her form has been electric once more, there is no doubt about that. However, given the regularity with which Norway have disappointed at major tournaments in the past decade, players set to represent more fancied nations at this summer's Euros may have greater potential to propel their names into the top end of the mix.

Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona) ↔️

In 2024-25: 21 goals, 16 assists. Won Champions League.Arsenal's best player this past season, Mariona Caldentey was another key instigator in the Gunners' remarkable European campaign. Alongside goals in the comebacks against both Real Madrid and Lyon, the 29-year-old also shone domestically, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/mariona-caldentey-arsenal-lionesses-alessia-russo-wsl-player-of-the-season-award/blt135d6134e4db6c0f" target="_blank">so much so that she was named the WSL Player of the Year</a>.She was the best player in her league, she emerged as a champion on the continent at club level - and she has a real chance to do the latter with her national team, too. After all, given the form Caldentey is in, she feels like one of the biggest reasons why Spain can triumph at the Euros. There is the potential for her to really make a charge for this Ballon d'Or.

Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal) ↔️

In 2024-25: 19 goals, 15 assists. Won Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/how-barcelona-spain-star-aitana-bonmati-won-2024-ballon-dor-feminin/bltd6267d8fe5d5a5dd" target="_blank">Winner of the last two Ballons d'Or</a>, it is not going to be easy for Bonmati to do a three-peat, but she has a chance. The midfielder was, again, a vital cog in a Barcelona team that won a treble, and the same goes for her role in <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/womens-euro-2025-power-rankings/blta83e9457f3dfdefd" target="_blank">a Spain team that will head to Switzerland this summer as the favourites to win the European Championship</a>.Bonmati's world-class quality was evident throughout the past season, but her goals and assists were not quite up there with some of her team-mates', which, frustratingly, is what a lot of these awards can be judged on. However, given how she took over the World Cup in 2023, and shone despite Spain's quarter-final exit at Euro 2022, you wouldn't bet against her taking this summer's Euros by storm and emerging as a front-runner in the bid for more Golden Ball glory.

Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona) ↔️

In 2024-25: 24 goals, 17 assists. Won Liga F, Copa de la Reina and Spanish Super Cup.Winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2021 and 2022, could Alexia Putellas return to the top of the podium in 2025? After some tough times with injury since that last Golden Ball, the 31-year-old has looked back to her brilliant best this season. Indeed, only Pajor registered more direct goal involvements in Liga F than the midfielder.There's no doubt that <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/barcelona-femeni-player-ratings-vs-arsenal-barca-champions-league-domination-over-alexia-putellas-aitana-bonmati-uwcl/blt92ea85a0ed11832d" target="_blank">Barca's defeat in the Champions League final</a> hurts her chances, but not enough to knock her off top spot in this ranking. The gap between her and the rest of the pack has certainly been closed, but Putellas still feels like the front-runner as this summer's Euros prepare to kick off.

Alexia Putellas (Barcelona) ↔️

Ballon d'Or Feminin Power Rankings: Who wins it now?! Arsenal's UWCL upset dents hopes of Aitana Bonmati & Alexia Putellas | Goal.com

Could Aitana Bonmati win a third Ballon d&apos;Or Feminin in a row? GOAL runs through the contenders for the 2025 Golden Ball...