Cafu snubs 17-year-old Yamal, names 2 main candidates for 2025 Ballon d'Or

The Ballon d'Or has been hotly contested in recent years, with last year's award particularly contentious after Manchester City's Rodri beat Vinicius Junior to the prestigious honour.

This was the only time in 20 years that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were not included in the final list of nominees, and their absence has opened the door for other winners to emerge.

This year's Ballon d'Or will certainly be keenly contested as the likes of Mohamed Salah, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and PSG's Ousmane Dembele vie for the ultimate prize.

However, Cafu believes Barcelona winger Raphinha and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah are the two main contenders, with Raphinha as the frontrunner.

Speaking to the media (via GOAL), Cafu said, "I don't see many players today who can compete with Raphinha, and I'd even say that between him and Mohamed Salah. I think they're the two who will have a chance of winning the Ballon d'Or.

"Raphinha has 31 goals and 25 assists. He's broken Messi's record in a team considered the best in the world today, full of stars.

"It's the heart, the defining element, the one that makes Barcelona play. And I'm very happy that he's a Brazilian, a Brazilian who's been standing out. He's the team captain at a great club like Barca."