Is the world's best defensive midfielder the biggest oversight? The Ballon d'Or nominees have been announced, and Caicedo is omitted despite winning two titles and finishing in the Premier League's top four.

The nominees for the 2025 Ballon d'Or were revealed on August 7, with Chelsea, the dual champions of the UEFA Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup, having only one player selected. Both midfielders Caicedo and Enzo were left out, particularly Caicedo's omission as the "world's best defensive midfielder" has sparked significant controversy.

At 23 years old, Caicedo is 1.78 meters tall and primarily plays as a defensive midfielder, serving as Chelsea's midfield anchor. Last season, he appeared in 45 matches across all competitions, starting 43 of them, contributing 2 goals and 3 assists. He played every minute in the Premier League, starting all 38 matches, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists. In the 2025 Club World Cup, he started all 5 matches and provided 1 assist, playing a crucial role in the team's victory. Caicedo's market value is estimated at 90 million euros, making him undoubtedly the best defensive midfielder in the current football world.

Fans understand Caicedo's importance, and of course, his Chelsea teammates do as well. In last season's internal voting, Caicedo was named the best player by both Chelsea players and fans, and he is one of the team's captains.

On the national team level, the 23-year-old Caicedo is Ecuador's midfield linchpin. In 16 matches during the South American World Cup qualifiers, Ecuador conceded only 5 goals, making them the team with the fewest goals conceded in this round of qualifiers. Caicedo's relentless defense has helped the team secure early qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Coupled with the dual championships in the UEFA Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup, and their fourth-place finish in the Premier League, Caicedo's omission from the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees is indeed the biggest recent "oversight." Do you agree?