Cynthia Ezegwu
The build-up to the Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony kicked off on Monday as organisers began unveiling the official player rankings on their X handle.
Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise was announced in 30th place, followed by Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz in 29th and Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in 28th. Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice came in at 27th, while Manchester City striker Erling Haaland rounded out the initial reveal at 26th.
The announcement, also confirmed by football journalist Fabrizio Romano, immediately stirred reactions among fans, with debates centering on Olise’s relatively low placement despite his standout season at Bayern, where he recorded 12 goals and 15 assists.
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Organisers are expected to continue unveiling the full 30-man ranking throughout the day.
The prestigious award ceremony will be held later today in Paris, where the winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or will be crowned.