Ousmane Dembélé’s Ballon d’Or Win: Ranking Surprises, Snubs, and the Truth Behind 2025’s Most Controversial Awards
Dembélé’s Victory: Merit or Momentum?
Ousmane Dembélé’s resurgence at Paris Saint-Germain commanded headlines, as a 37-goal, 15-assist campaign powered PSG to its first-ever Champions League—a historic achievement that makes his Ballon d’Or win difficult to dispute on paper. One cannot ignore how his role under Luis Enrique transformed him from a fast winger into a prolific centre-forward whose all-round play made PSG unplayable on the biggest stage
Surprises in the Rankings
The biggest shock in the official top ten was the presence of Vitinha as third—above higher-profile names like Mohamed Salah, who had a 57-goal contribution season but finished fourth and didn’t attend the ceremony. Raphinha, who had a breakout year at Barcelona, landed fifth instead of contending for the podium, while Achraf Hakimi and Cole Palmer leap-frogged higher expectations with sixth and eighth places respectively.
| Rank | Player | Club | Comments |
| 1 | Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | Deserved win |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | Young prodigy, snub? |
| 3 | Vitinha | Paris Saint-Germain | Surprise podium |
| 4 | Mohamed Salah | Liverpool | Many expected higher |
| 5 | Raphinha | Barcelona | Strong campaign |
Disappointments and Snubs
- Lamine Yamal: Few have made so explosive an impact at 18, powering Barcelona to a domestic double and Champions League semi-final, narrowly missing history as the youngest-ever winner. His second place was deserved, but there’s an argument for him topping the list given his age-defying consistency
- Pedri: Ranked 11th, sparking outrage. Fans and pundits widely expected a top-five finish due to his midfield dominance for both club and country, with social media branding the rankings a “disgrace” and “unjust”.
- Virgil van Dijk: Placing 28th was especially controversial after another season anchoring Liverpool’s defense, prompting fan uproar on major forums.
- Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi: Neither legend made the final shortlist for the first time in over a decade, symbolizing a generational shift and drawing sharp criticism from Ronaldo himself.
Who Deserved to Be Ranked Higher?
- Mohamed Salah: Given his statistical output, few would contest that Salah could have finished on the podium.
- Pedri: Consistency, leadership, and season-defining displays warranted far better than 11th
- Cole Palmer: Despite placing eighth, some see his inclusion over others as more a triumph of narrative than merit, with debate heated among English fans.
Conclusion: Changing of the Guard
The 2025 Ballon d’Or was an unexpected celebration of new heroes—Dembélé’s redemption arc topping headlines, but also the meteoric rise of Yamal and controversial exclusion of veteran icons. While the rankings ignited uproar, they reflect a season where individual brilliance and transformational moments shaped football’s evolving story.
