Jonatan Giraldez criticizes Ballon d’Or results for OL Lyonnes
Jonatan Giraldez Criticizes Ballon d’Or Results After OL Lyonnes Shutout
Following the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony held on October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium, OL Lyonnes head coach Jonatan Giraldez expressed sharp frustration over his club’s lack of major individual accolades, Foot01 reported. Despite finishing as the European runner-up, the French side walked away without a single trophy, while rival FC Barcelone dominated the evening with multiple awards.
Barcelone Dominance Overshadows Lyon’s European Campaign
The Catalan club secured several key distinctions during the London event. Alexia Putellas captured her third career Ballon d’Or, while Vicky Lopez claimed the best young player award. Pere Romeu won coach of the year, and the organization was named best club. Coeurs de foot noted that five Barcelona players finished inside the top ten, including Ewa Pajor, Patri Guijarro, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Clàudia Pina.
By contrast, OL Lyonnes found itself largely relegated to a spectator role despite reaching the Champions League final. Giraldez pointed to the decisive 4-0 defeat against Barcelona in that match as a factor that shaped the voters’ mindset, noting that the Spanish side captured the most important continental title. However, the manager argued that being the second-best formation in Europe warranted broader representation.
Melchie Dumornay Fourth Place Sparks Debate
Much of the frustration in the Lyon camp centered on Melchie Dumornay. Widely viewed as a genuine contender for a podium finish, the Haitian international ultimately placed fourth in the final voting. Giraldez questioned the criteria behind the decisions while acknowledging Dumornay’s standout performances over the previous campaign.
Sur la décision, je ne vais pas dire si je suis d’accord ou pas d’accord, car je ne sais pas ce qui a compté. Je sais tout ce que Melchie a fait la saison dernière, je sais aussi que l’on doit plus travailler en dehors du terrain, sur le marketing, pour avoir plus de facilités à gagner ce type de trophée. Parce que sur le terrain, l’équipe et les joueuses méritent plus.
Other Lyon players appeared further down the final rankings. Wendie Renard finished 14th, Selma Bacha took 20th, and Caroline Weir placed 25th. Coeurs de foot highlighted that no other representatives from Arkema Première Ligue appeared in any of the evening’s other shortlisted categories, signaling a broader decline in international influence for the French championship compared to the English and Spanish leagues.
ALEXIA PUTELLAS! SHE DID IT! She is our 2026 Ballon d'Or winner!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hctM4DvwuB
Marketing and Off-Pitch Visibility Highlighted
Addressing the disparity between on-field results and awards recognition, Giraldez emphasized that success requires effort beyond the stadium lights. He pointed out that the club must enhance its marketing footprint to help players secure higher visibility in global voting categories. Looking ahead to the remainder of the season and the upcoming 2027 World Cup in Brazil, the manager stressed that the squad’s immediate focus remains on collective performance and upcoming fixtures rather than external voting outcomes.
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