Olise‘s Ballon d’Or Ranking Stuns; Guirassy Outpaces Wirtz
PARIS - A surprising result at the 2025 ballon d’Or ceremony saw Bayern Munich‘s Michael Olise rank ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, with Borussia Dortmund‘s Serhou Guirassy also securing a higher position than the German international. The rankings, revealed ahead of the gala at the Paris Théâtre du Châtelet, have sparked discussion about the evolving landscape of football recognition.
Wirtz finished 29th in the prestigious Ballon d’Or voting, while Olise landed in 30th place. Guirassy achieved a 21st-place finish, demonstrating the growing recognition of bundesliga talent on the international stage. This outcome underscores a shift in voter focus, acknowledging players experiencing peak form even if their teams didn’t achieve ultimate championship success.
The first results, announced around three hours before the gala’s 9 p.m.(DAZN) start, also revealed notable placements for Scott McTominay (SSC Naples, 18th) and Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan, 25th). Klara Bühl was the sole other German representative, finishing 19th in the women’s category.
Wirtz,22,recorded 16 goals and 15 assists for Bayer Leverkusen across all competitions during the 2024/25 evaluation period,leading his team to a German runner-up finish before transferring to Liverpool FC. Olise, meanwhile, has been in exceptional form for Bayern Munich, captivating European football. Guirassy’s strong performance for Borussia Dortmund further highlights the Bundesliga’s contribution to top-tier talent.
Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal are considered frontrunners for the men’s award. Dembélé, a French champion and Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain, is favored to succeed Rodri (Manchester City) as the Ballon d’Or recipient. Yamal,18,secured a Spanish Double with FC Barcelona.
The Ballon d’Or, awarded by France football since 1956, recognizes the world’s best football player. Lionel Messi holds the record with eight titles. FIFA also presents its own world player awards, and the two organizations collaborated on the FIFA Ballon d’Or from 2010-2015.
