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

The Haitian star was the Champions League’ Young Player of the Season and the French league’s second top scorer
by Onz Chéry Oct. 01, 2025
Overview:
Onz Chéry, The Haitian Times sports reporter, breaks down why Melchie Dumornay should have ranked higher in the 2025 France Football Ballon d’Or and encourages Haitian fans and media outlets to defend her more, as she is often undervalued in individual recognition awards.
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 Ligueand 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.