2025 Ballon d’Or: Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy claims 21st spot in rankings

Serhou Guirassy has secured 21st place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or standings, capping off a remarkable year with Borussia Dortmund.

The announcement by France Football on 22 September recognised the Guinean striker’s outstanding contributions in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League.

Guirassy’s rise to prominence has been steady but relentless.

After an extraordinary 2023/24 campaign at Stuttgart, where he struck 28 goals in the Bundesliga, the forward carried his prolific form into Dortmund.

In the 2024/25 season, he netted 21 league goals and added 13 in the Champions League, sharing the competition’s top scorer award with Barcelona’s Raphinha.

His goals powered Dortmund to the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition, reinforcing his reputation as one of the continent’s most dangerous strikers.

The 29-year-old’s combination of strength, composure, and ruthless finishing has made him indispensable at BVB.

His influence was underlined by finishing ahead of high-profile names such as Alexis Mac Allister, who placed 22nd, and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham in 23rd.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabian Ruiz (24th) and Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries (25th) completed the group of players ranked just below him.

For Guirassy, this recognition also carries a sense of redemption.

Despite scoring heavily for Stuttgart the previous year, his omission from the 2024 shortlist had drawn criticism.

His inclusion in 2025, alongside fellow Africans Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, highlights both his personal resurgence and the growing presence of African talent on the global stage.

Speaking of his achievement, observers point to his consistency as the key to his breakthrough.

Guirassy has established himself as far more than a one-season phenomenon, delivering at the highest level for club and country.

With Dortmund maintaining ambitions at home and abroad, his performances suggest the potential to climb even higher in future editions of the award.

The 21st-place finish is a career milestone, but at 29, Guirassy remains at the peak of his powers.

Should he sustain his scoring form and guide Dortmund deeper into European competition, a push into the Ballon d’Or’s top 10 is not beyond reach.

The Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris will host the ceremony, where attention now shifts to the battle for the coveted prize.

With favourites such as Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal and Mohamed Salah in contention, the finale promises drama.

For Guirassy, however, this year’s recognition confirms his status among the game’s elite and signals his readiness for even greater heights.