These are the seven contentious rankings for the 2025 Ballon d’Or
Ousmane Dembélé’s historic quadruple, 35 goals, and 16 assists during his incredible season with PSG were capped off by his Ballon d’Or victory. He joined Platini, Zidane, and Benzema as the sixth Frenchman to win the prize at the age of 28.
However, the news instantly sparked discussions around Europe, with many in Spain arguing that Lamine Yamal’s stellar season with Barcelona should be given credit instead. The rankings themselves, however, were what really caused controversy, not the winner.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer unexpectedly finished in eighth place, but Spanish supporters were incensed to see Fabian Ruiz drop to 24th and Pedri barely to 11th. The fact that Nuno Mendes of PSG finished in merely 10th place, despite being instrumental in Paris’ quadruple and winning the Nations League with Portugal, was even more stunning to many. The case of Achraf Hakimi also sparked curiosity. Despite having a remarkable season with 11 goals and 16 assists in 55 games as a defender, the Moroccan was left out of the top five, which many in France feel undervalued his contribution.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah’s selection ahead of Raphinha infuriated Barcelona fans. The Brazilian winger amassed more titles than Salah, who “only” won the Premier League, and scored 34 goals, 13 of which came in the Champions League. Raphinha fell behind others in the final voting, even though many thought he should have at least placed on the podium. The Ballon d’Or has once again shown that it is impossible to reach a consensus; its appeal is found in the controversy it sparks as much as in the honor it bestows.
