Ballon d’Or: Sam Allardyce names player to win 2025 award

Former England manager Sam Allardyce has named Real Madrid superstar, Vinicius Jr as the player that should win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

The former Bolton Wanterers boss snubbed Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and picked Vinicius Jr for the award.

Allardyce, 70, said the Egyptian has ‘no chance’ due to Real Madrid’s boycott of the ceremony last year.

The Brazil international was widely tipped to win the Ballon d’Or last year after his 25 goals and 11 assists in 40 appearances helped Real Madrid win the UCL and LaLiga.

The Brazilian was beaten to the award by Manchester City’s Rodri, who helped Spain win the Euro 2024.

Rodri also won the Premier League title while Vinicius’ Brazil crashed out in the quarterfinals of the 2024 Copa America.

Vinicius Jr has continued to impress this season with 17 goals and 10 assists in 34 games thus far.

Salah, on the other hand, has scored a whopping 30 goals and 22 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool.

Allardyce claimed that Salah stands no chance due to the circumstances.

Recall that Vinicius refused to attend the award ceremony last year after indications emerged that he would not win.

Allardyce believes the award’s hosts, the France Football magazine, will not want a repeat of the situation, claiming, “There’s no chance (for Salah to win). It’ll be Vinicius Jr because of what Real Madrid did last year (boycott).

“They (France Football) will be absolutely sh*tting themselves because they won’t turn up again if one of them doesn’t win it, so one of them will win it. You might as well have a bet on it now.”

Ballon d’Or: Sam Allardyce names player to win 2025 award