Dumornay finishing 18th in Ballon d’Or race is unreasonable | Analysis

CAP-HAÏTIEN — In April 2025, it seemed as if women’s football was at Melchie Dumornay’s feet. The Haitian midfielder scored in four consecutive Champions League matches, helping  Lyon defeat Bayern Munich 6-1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals before falling 5-3 to Arsenal in the semifinals.

Back then, Dumornay looked like a legitimate Ballon d’Or contender. Yet five months later, she barely cracked the top 20, finishing 18th.

No one expected her to win the award or even finish in the top 10, but 18th feels far too low for a player who had one of the best individual seasons in Europe.

A season of milestones

Dumornay was the second-leading scorer in France’s Arkema Première Ligue and the fourth-leading scorer in the Champions League. She earned Lyon’s Player of the Season, Champions League Young Player of the Season, a spot in the Champions League Team of the Season and a Concacaf Player of the Year nomination.

Her résumé for 2025 includes:

• 15 goals in the Arkema Première Ligue (2nd)
• 6 goals in 9 Champions League matches (4th)
• 2 assists in 8 Champions League appearances
  
• 4 goals in 8 matches for Haiti
  
• Champions League Young Player of the Season
  
• Champions League Team of the Season
  
• OL Lyonnes’ Player of the Season
  
• Concacaf Player of the Year nominee

The only blemish was at the international level, where Haiti played no major tournaments. She also won just one team trophy, the French league, in a voting system that places heavy weight on silverware. Even so, finishing 18th undervalues her accomplishments.

Voter reaction and Haitian silence as Dumornay’s talent is undervalued 

“I think Melchie should have finished higher,” said sports journalist Caleb Jephté Pierre, who voted in the Ballon d’Or. 

“Looking at who finished above her, there were international competitions in Africa, South America and Europe, but she did not play in the Concacaf region. Maybe that played a role in the rankings.”

“I’m not fully satisfied with 18th place,” he added. “But maybe it’s a good start that will push Melchie to work even harder.”

Fans also voiced frustration on social media, calling the placement unfair. Still, the broader Haitian sports community remained muted, with little pushback compared to the debates surrounding the men’s Ballon d’Or.

The following are some of the most notable comments as Haitians took to social media to express their shock and frustration after the Ballon d’Or voting results were revealed. 

That silence matters. The Ballon d’Or is decided by 100 journalists worldwide, and narratives — amplified by media, fans and federations — help sway votes. Haitians, who seemed too content just to see Dumornay nominated, haven’t made enough noise on her behalf.

Last year, the Haitian star wasn’t even nominated, despite winning Concacaf Player of the Year ahead of players who did make the list. Few Haitians protested then, and history seems to be repeating 

This time, Dumornay herself stayed quiet, posting only photos and videos from the ceremony. The Haitian Football Federation issued a brief statement celebrating her as “a historic first for Haitian soccer,” calling her finish “an immense pride to the whole nation.”

While pride is warranted, settling for 18th risks normalizing her undervaluation. As long as Haitian media and fans fail to push her case, her talent will continue to be muffled on the global stage.

Systemic flaws in Ballon d’Or voting

Dumornay is not the only player from outside Europe who was overlooked. Temwa Chaŵinga of Malawi, who won the National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) MVP and Golden Boot with  Kansas City Current and led her national team to the COSAFA Cup semifinals, finished just 16th — another reminder of how the Europe-based award undervalues talent from elsewhere. The NWSL is arguably one of the most competitive women’s soccer leagues in the world.

Meanwhile, a player like Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen of FC Barcelona, ranked ahead of Dumornay, despite producing less individually. Hansen won multiple trophies but was only the seventh-leading scorer in Spain and missed out on the Champions League Team of the Season. Norway also exited the Euro 2025 in the quarterfinals.

Her higher finish highlights the Ballon d’Or’s biggest flaw: team trophies are often valued more than individual brilliance.

For Dumornay to climb the Ballon d’Or rankings in 2026, she will likely need more team silverware. But just as importantly, Haitians must rally behind her, amplifying her achievements on the global stage.

If fans, media and institutions don’t push her case, her brilliance risks being overshadowed by the politics of football awards.

For now, 18th place feels less like a reflection of her talent — and more like a failure of recognition.

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