Dembele achieves greater success than Xavi, Iniesta, or Mbappe

Ousmane Dembele took the spotlight in Paris to claim the 2025 Ballon d'Or. His celebration raised a common question: why have icons such as Xavi, Iniesta, or Henry not been honored during this century?

Ousmane Dembele has just been awarded the 2025 Ballon d'Or, capping off a historic season with Paris Saint-Germain. The 28-year-old striker scored 35 goals and provided 14 assists, playing a crucial role in helping Luis Enrique’s team win the Champions League for the first time, as well as securing Ligue 1 and the French Cup to complete an unprecedented treble. During the award ceremony, he expressed his emotions: "I want to thank PSG, the coaching staff, and my teammates. My success today is the result of the entire team’s effort."

However, alongside the recognition for Dembele, respected journalist Miguel Delaney from The Independent points out that this year’s Ballon d’Or also revives a longstanding paradox: legends like Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry, or Paolo Maldini have never been honored despite their enormous influence. Even contemporary superstars like Robert Lewandowski, Mohamed Salah, or Erling Haaland have missed out on this distinguished prize.

This situation clearly highlights the ambiguity in the Ballon d’Or criteria. Is it an award for the "most valuable player of the season" or to honor the "best player in the world"? Xavi and Iniesta led Barcelona and Spain to great heights but were overshadowed by the Messi-Ronaldo era. Consequently, their peak years were insufficient to convince voters. Meanwhile, Dembele benefited from a season without major international tournaments and no single player dominating individually.

This makes Dembele’s victory reminiscent of historical cases like Florian Albert (1967) or Allan Simonsen (1977). They were excellent and deserving players in those years, but their awards did not define an era, unlike the iconic wins of Cruyff, Platini, or Messi.

Notably, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal is considered by many to have demonstrated a higher level than Dembele and to be more deserving of the award. Although Barcelona was eliminated in the Champions League semifinals, Yamal is regarded as one of the brightest talents in football today. However, his youth might have made voters hesitant to grant him the highest honor.

Finally, The Independent’s respected writer believes the 2025 Ballon d’Or continues to reflect a mix of individual and team achievements but cannot avoid controversy. Dembele’s recognition also serves as a reminder of an uncomfortable truth: football artists like Xavi, Iniesta, and Henry remain absent from the list of this prestigious award’s winners.