Cole Palmer finished in seventh place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings after a sensational 12 months with Chelsea and England
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer capped off a remarkable year by securing a historic seventh-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings.
The 23-year-old was instrumental for the Blues last season, scoring 18 goals and providing 14 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions. His contributions powered Chelsea to silverware in both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup, while also helping secure a crucial top-four finish in the Premier League and a long-awaited return to the Champions League.
Palmer has carried that momentum into the new campaign, already finding the net twice in his first four league outings. Chelsea, meanwhile, sit sixth in the Premier League with eight points.
What makes Palmer’s Ballon d’Or finish even more impressive is its rarity: he became the first player since Neymar in 2011 to place inside the top ten without playing Champions League football. Neymar, then with Santos, had made global headlines as a teenage sensation in Brazil before his move to Europe.
Palmer’s rise since swapping Manchester City for Stamford Bridge in 2023 has been rapid, with his performances earning recognition on the world stage.
At the summit of this year’s Ballon d’Or, Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé claimed the trophy for the first time in his career, edging out Lamine Yamal and Vitinha.
Ousmane Dembélé’s triumph was built on silverware as well as brilliance. The French winger spearheaded Paris Saint-Germain’s march to a historic first-ever UEFA Champions League title last season, while also adding another Ligue 1 crown to his collection.
He edged out Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who inspired the Catalan giants to a La Liga title, finishing above a Real Madrid team packed with stars.
Third place went to Dembélé’s teammate, Vitinha, whose influence stretched beyond PSG’s European success. The Portuguese midfielder also shone on the international stage, helping his country defeat Spain in the UEFA Nations League final.
