No gold for Bronze helps spark fans’ furore over Ballon d’Or awards
Written by Ben Briggs on 26th September 2025
North East-born defender Lucy Bronze, in action for England’s Lionesses.
Football fans have questioned whether the game’s most prestigious awards are more about celebrity than talent, after none of the trophy-winning England Lionesses – including North East star Lucy Bronze – were named top individual player in this year’s Ballon d’Or.
The usual storm of controversy among fans erupted again this year, in the wake of the awards for the world’s ‘best footballer’.
Berwick-born England full-back Bronze – part of the England squad that won its second UEFA Women’s Euros this summer in Switzerland – was among the nominees.
Also nominated was her international colleague Alessia Russo, who also won the UEFA Champions League. Three other Lionesses were among the top 10 Ballon d’Or individual rankings, while coach Sarina Wiegman was named women’s coach of the year.
But no Lioness carried off the top women’s prize, with Bronze being awarded ninth place and Russo third, behind overall women’s winner and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati.
This led to many fans online claiming the Ballon d’Or was no longer focused on footballing achievement, but seemed more interested in celebrity and profile.
“Alessia Russo was robbed! How Bonmati won it, getting the silver medal in the Champions League and Euros whilst missing a crucial penalty in the shootout, is incredible…” said one fan on the BBC sport website.
A similar debate appeared to unfold on the men’s side of the awards, in which Paris Saint-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele was awarded top prize, narrowly defeating young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.
Some questioned whether Yamal should have finished as high as second, with one user on the BBC sport website saying: “If he starts to believe his own hype, he, like others, won’t have the career they thought.”
Similarly, Dembele’s win raised eyebrows. “Having a few good games at the tail end of the Champions League, doesn’t all of a sudden make him the best player in the world,” said another commenter on BBC Sport.
Some of this generation’s greatest players – such as Kevin De Bruyne, Mohammed Salah, and Erling Haaland – have never won this award, despite their incredible consistency – a point noted by a further member of the public on BBC Sport.
“It is beggars belief that neither Kevin De Bruyne nor Mo Salah have ever won this award. Both have played to an incredible standard for a decade or so. Dembele has one exceptional season and wins the award – a career under-achiever mostly. Haaland scores over 50 in all comps in one season – wins the treble – no award”.
Whatever the truth, it seems the Ballon d’Or’s long-term credibility as the gold standard of individual achievement in football may be in doubt.
