Power Rankings: Which Club Will Claim the Coveted 2025 Ballon d'Or Club of the Year Crown?
Five clubs - four from Europe and one from Brazil - are competing for the Club of the Year honor at the 2025 Ballon d'Or gala.
The top male and female footballers globally, headlined by Ousmane Dembélé and Aitana Bonmatí, lead the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominee list. The September event will also recognize the sport's finest coaches, keepers, emerging talents and teams.
Barcelona, Botafogo, Chelsea, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain comprise the five contenders for the 2025 Club of the Year distinction. Each squad captured trophies during the previous campaign, with some claiming multiple honors. While all merit recognition for their championship-winning 2024–25 seasons, two clubs clearly emerge as frontrunners for the accolade.
Here is Sports Illustrated's assessment of the 2025 Club of the Year candidates.
5. Botafogo
Botafogo surpassed German titleholders Bayern Munich and Italian champions Napoli to earn a Club of the Year nomination. The Brazilian team represents the sole non-European candidate for the honor, highlighting their exceptional 2024–25 campaign.
The organization captured their maiden Copa Libertadores crown in November, defeating Atlético Mineiro 3–1 in the championship match. More remarkably, they achieved this feat while playing with ten players for 88 minutes. Botafogo also claimed Brazil's domestic championship, securing their first league triumph since 1995.
The South American club then participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, stunning observers by delivering PSG their initial tournament defeat. Botafogo's journey ended against Palmeiras in the round of 16.
Comparing the club's achievements with their fellow nominees proves challenging, however, as the others compete on Europe's most prestigious and demanding platforms.
4. Chelsea
Chelsea concluded their 2024–25 season magnificently. The Blues not only earned Champions League qualification through a fourth-place Premier League finish but also claimed the Conference League and Club World Cup titles.
Chelsea's American triumph proved extraordinary. The English side overwhelmed PSG, who had captured the Champions League just six weeks earlier, in the Club World Cup final, powered largely by Cole Palmer's brilliant performance. The victory brought $114.6 million in prize earnings.
Enzo Maresca's squad didn't always perform elegantly; they managed only four victories from late December through February. Nevertheless, they persevered and ultimately added two trophies to their collection.
However, their silverware doesn't match what the remaining three nominees accomplished in 2024–25.
3. Liverpool
Unlike Chelsea, Liverpool didn't qualify for this summer's Club World Cup. Nevertheless, they concluded their 2024–25 campaign triumphantly by securing the Premier League title.
Liverpool quickly recovered after saying goodbye to Jürgen Klopp. Under Arne Slot's guidance, the club earned its 20th league championship, matching Manchester United's historic record. The Reds defeated second-place Arsenal by 10 points.
Conquering arguably the world's most competitive league would typically position Liverpool as Club of the Year favorites, but their struggles in other competitions diminish their chances. Slot's team departed the Champions League in the round of 16, fell to Championship club Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, and lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle United.
Still, they certainly deserve recognition for dominating English football's top division. Mohamed Salah, named Premier League Player of the Season, excelled throughout, creating history with 47 goal contributions across 38 league appearances.
2. Barcelona
Barcelona achieved a domestic treble during Hansi Flick's inaugural season as manager. The Catalans overcame arch-rivals Real Madrid to capture La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Copa del Rey.
The Spanish champions netted an incredible 102 goals during their La Liga-winning run, becoming the first team to reach triple figures in eight years. Barcelona scored five against Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and three more in the Copa del Rey final.
Outstanding campaigns from Raphinha and Lamine Yamal captured attention, but Barcelona excelled in every position. Jules Koundé emerged as Spain's premier right-back, Pedri as the finest midfielder, and Wojciech Szczęsny maintained a 22-match unbeaten streak in goal.
Barcelona's only weakness was their Champions League disappointment. Flick's squad exited the tournament in the semifinals after losing to Inter Milan.
1. Paris Saint-Germain
Could there be any question about which club would claim the top spot? PSG accomplished a historic quadruple during the 2024–25 season, capturing Ligue 1, the Trophée des Champions, the Coupe de France, and most importantly, the Champions League.
The Parisians controlled the French top division, finishing 19 points ahead of second-place Marseille. They also crushed Inter Milan in the Champions League final, netting five goals at the Allianz Arena, the most in the competition's championship game history.
Despite falling to Chelsea in the FIFA Club World Cup final, PSG stands as the world's premier team. From Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, to Nuno Mendes and Marquinhos anchoring the defense, to Vitinha orchestrating from midfield, to Ousmane Dembélé's excellence in attack, Luis Enrique's squad represents a unified force in a league of their own.
It would be shocking if the reigning French and European champions don't claim the Club of the Year award.