The question insistently comes up: why were the votes of the Ballon d'Or 2025 still not closed in early September, when the ceremony is scheduled for the 22nd of the month? A vagueness that intrigues, especially since the season taken into account ended in July with the final of the World Cup clubs between PSG and Chelsea.
Golden ball 2025: the mystery of prolonged votes
According to France Football, the period evaluated went from August 1, 2024 to July 31, 2025.
The appointments were revealed on August 7, With thirty candidates selected in men, including Ousmane Dembélé, Mohamed Salah and Lamine Yamal. Initially, the closing of the votes was announced for the end of August, but in fact,
It only took place next week according to what the team reports. This discrepancy, without clear explanation, nourishes the questions of observers.
Officially, it is a question of leaving voting journalists – one per country in the top 100 FIFA – the time necessary to analyze the list. But this flexibility leaves the door open to biases. Because even if the September matches do not count in the evaluation (they belong to the 2025-2026 season), it is difficult to ignore the influence of recent performance or injuries.
After Ronaldo in 2013, will Yamal take advantage of an extensible Deadline for BO?
A controversy that persists
The example of Ousmane Dembélé illustrates this danger. Brilliant throughout last season, the PSG winger injured in the international break in September. However, even if this injury should not be taken into account, some voters could unconsciously revise their judgment. Especially since the exploits of a Lamine Yamal with Spain in September can leave a favorable impression.
This is not the first time that the issue of voting times has fueled criticism. Already in 2013, an extension of the deadline had fueled the idea of a favoritism in favor of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Franck Ribéry will certainly not say the opposite. This year again, the lack of transparency on the exact calendar maintains the discomfort. The logic would like the votes to end at the end of July, but France Football continues to favor an extensive window. An ambiguity which, with each edition, weakens the credibility of the trophy a little more.
