During the prestigious Ballon d’Or 2025 ceremony, Guinean goal scorer Serhou Guirassy had to settle for a modest 21st place in the overall ranking, sparking debates about a possible injustice against his immense talent. Despite a remarkable season, the striker failed to fully convince the voters, who preferred to highlight other global football stars.
The final ranking saw Ousmane Dembélé claim first place, followed by Lamine Yamal and Vitinha on the podium, while players like Kylian Mbappé finished in more honorable positions, respectively 7th. This hierarchy reflects the choices of 100 international journalists who awarded points based on both collective and individual performances throughout the season[1][2][3].
Guirassy’s positioning at 21st place is all the more surprising as he was one of the most prolific scorers of the season. According to several analysts and fans, his impactful statistics and influence on the game should have earned him a higher place in this ranking, illustrating a possible bias or oversight in the appreciation of his achievements. This raises a discussion about the Ballon d’Or selection criteria and their alignment with the reality on the pitch.
Dembélé’s victory and the top 10 including players like Salah, Raphinha, and Hakimi demonstrate strong competition, but Guirassy’s case becomes symbolic of the often invisible struggles for recognition of African talents in the international football sphere. The debate is thus launched, highlighting the need for greater fairness and diversity in awarding this highly coveted trophy.