Ballon d’Or 2026: PSG fans disappointed not to be in the top 5

In the brightly lit hall of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, Paris SG supporters watched, heavy‑hearted, the ranking where Ousmane Dembélé was not among the top five, even though the club had just been crowned club of the year after its Champions League triumph and the Parisians had just beaten Olympique Lyonnais 2‑0.

A club crowned best of the year

Paris SG was logically crowned club of the year after winning the Champions League, confirming its supremacy in Europe. This accolade heightened the expectation of individual recognition for its players.

Yet, the individual ranking sparked a notable disappointment among supporters, who had hoped to see their stars among the leaders of the Ballon d’Or. Fans voiced their displeasure on social media.

Abundant nominations but no place in the top 5

Eight Paris SG players were among the thirty nominees, demonstrating the depth of the champion squad. The bad news came from London: no player from the club made the worldwide top 5.

Three Parisians nonetheless made the Top 10: Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia finished sixth, followed by Ousmane Dembélé in seventh place, and Fabian Ruiz in tenth. They therefore missed the coveted top spot.

Ousmane Dembélé lifts PSG Men Club of the Year at Ballon d’Or

The other players ranked lower: Achraf Hakimi in thirteenth place, Vitinha in fourteenth, Willian Pacho in twentieth, Nuno Mendes in twenty‑third and Marquinhos in twenty‑fifth. These rankings reflect the squad’s depth but highlight the gap with the top individual performances.

Journalist Vincent Garcia criticised Paris SG’s communication, stating: “PSG’s communication may not have been very clear in trying to promote three players, then two.” According to him, the club should have clarified its message to the voters.

Garcia compared this strategy to that of Kylian Mbappé, former club striker, who ran an impeccable campaign by leveraging his World Cup year to persuade the jurors. This comparison underscores the importance of a coherent communication campaign to influence the jurors.

The editor‑in‑chief of France Football added that Paris SG should have focused its support on a single player, namely the title holder, Ousmane Dembélé, to maximise his chances. He believes this dispersion cost the club a place in the top 5.

This situation has fueled a sense of injustice among fans, convinced that the club’s season‑long excellence was not rewarded appropriately. The debate over lobbying strategy continues to fuel discussions among observers.