Europe surrenders to Julián Álvarez: they already see him as a Ballon d'Or candidate

In the latest update from Marca, former River Plate forward Julian Alvarez has been included in the list of the top 10 contenders for the 2025 Ballon d'Or. Although his name appears among the big names, the Spanish newspaper places him a step behind the main favourites for the award. Despite his standout performances with the Argentina national team and at Atletico Madrid, Alvarez will need to further improve to compete directly with the more established stars of world football.

The main contenders for the 2025 Ballon d'Or

According to Marca, Mohamed Salah from Liverpool, Kylian Mbappe from Real Madrid, and Robert Lewandowski from FC Barcelona are considered the major favourites to win the award. These players have established careers and continue to shine both at club level and with their respective national teams. Salah, with his ability to make a difference in the Premier League, Mbappe, who remains one of the most dominant figures in European football, and Lewandowski, who maintains his exceptional form at Barcelona, are seen as Alvarez's main rivals for the Ballon d'Or.

The competition intensifies with other notable players

Despite being placed behind the aforementioned, Alvarez also faces strong competition from other contenders who are closely following the race for the award. Raphinha from Barcelona has played an important role in the attack for the Catalan team, while Ousmane Dembele, who recently moved to Paris Saint-Germain, continues to showcase his quality. Additionally, the promising Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, along with Vinicius Jr., are two young talents who have made a significant impact this season, and their potential positions them as serious contenders.

We cannot forget Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, one of the biggest prospects in Spanish football, and Harry Kane, who, with his move to Bayern Munich, continues to demonstrate his goal-scoring ability in the Bundesliga. All these players form a group of competitors who also hope to be part of the Ballon d'Or conversation.

Julian Alvarez's challenge

While Alvarez still has a long way to go to match the level of the favourites, his inclusion in this list is a significant step in his career. His performances with the Albiceleste and his importance at Atletico Madrid under the guidance of Diego Simeone are strong points that could elevate him in the coming months. With time and more success at both club and international levels, Alvarez could challenge the top stars and become one of the dominant figures in world football.