Salah finishes fourth as Dembele wins Ballon d'Or 2025

Mohamed Salah finished fourth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or on Monday, a career-best placing that left supporters and some observers lamenting what they called a missed opportunity for the Liverpool forward after a season in which he helped the club reclaim the Premier League and produced an exceptional individual return.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele won the award after starring in PSG's run to European glory. Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal finished second and PSG midfielder Vitinha third. Salah’s fourth-place finish marks his highest-ever Ballon d'Or ranking, improving on fifth-place showings in 2019 and 2022.

Salah closed the 2024-25 campaign with 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 appearances across competitions, figures widely reported by outlets covering the vote and underlined by Liverpool’s own social media tribute that read "A season to savour from Salah" alongside a carousel of images celebrating his year. The season yielded numerous individual honours for the Egyptian, including the Premier League Golden Boot, the league’s Player of the Season, the Playmaker award and recognition from the PFA and Football Writers.

Reactions to the result were immediate. Egypt...