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2 clusters · 21 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated

2026 Ballon d'Or nomination controversy

Overview

The announcement of the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has triggered significant controversy due to the exclusion of FC Barcelona players Raphinha and Pedri. Barcelona officials, including sporting director Deco and president Joan Laporta, have criticized the decision, with Deco labeling the omission a ‘worldwide scandal’. They argued the players earned their place following a season that included La Liga and Supercopa de Espana titles.

While Raphinha has maintained high performance levels, including scoring eight goals in five matches, he noted that award criteria do not always align with individual statistics. The controversy has extended to Catalan media, where journalist Alfredo Martinez questioned the award’s credibility. Martinez suggested the omission undermines the prestige of the accolade and argued that the award is evolving into a ‘marketing and image-selling product’ that prioritizes spectacle over player merit.

Entities

Ballon d'Or · Raphinha · FC Barcelona · Ousmane Dembele · Joan Laporta

Timeline

  1. about 19 hours ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Ballon d'Or nominations spark controversy in Catalonia

    Catalan journalist Alfredo Martinez has criticized the Ballon d'Or nominations, questioning the award's credibility after the exclusion of FC Barcelona stars Pedri and Raphinha.

  2. 5 days ago

    [SPORTS] 19 sources
    Raphinha and Pedri excluded from 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist

    Barcelona officials have called the exclusion of Raphinha and Pedri from the 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist a ‘worldwide scandal’ despite their strong performances and recent club successes.

Sources

africafootunited.com · antaranews.com · blueprint.ng · bulevardnews.com · butfootballclub.fr · elintransigente.com · elnacional.cat · esportenaredemt.com.br · extratimetalk.com · football365.fr · footiledefrance.fr · hugogloss.uol.com.br · informim.net · legit9ja.com · m.jpnn.com · psgtalk.com · pulsesports.ng · si.com · sport.fr · sportskeeda.com · trivela.com.br