Four journalists placed Mohamed Salah first in Ballon d’Or votes

Mohamed Salah may not have lifted the Ballon d’Or this year, but his name carried weight in the hearts of voters across the world.

The Liverpool forward was proudly backed as the top choice by four respected journalists, underscoring his enduring influence on the game.

France Football magazine revealed the breakdown of the 2025 votes after Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain was crowned the winner ahead of Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, PSG’s Vitinha, and Salah. The announcement cleared the air over heated debate in Egypt when rumors spread that journalist Inas Mazhar, who serves on the Egyptian Football Association board, had not selected Salah.

The magazine ended the speculation by releasing a photo of the ballots, showing Mazhar with Salah at number one. He also earned first-place support from South African journalist Mark Gilson, Bahraini journalist Abdullah Ashour, and Jordanian journalist Hossam Barakat.

Elsewhere, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi was recognized as the top choice by Moroccan journalist Mustafa Badri and Gabonese journalist James Angelo, highlighting the diverse appreciation of talent in this year’s race.