National media think it’s genuinely ‘surprising’ that Arsenal player wasn’t recognised at the Ballon d’Or

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Only two Arsenal players ranked in the top 30 of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, with Spanish media thinking one member of Mikel Arteta’s squad was overlooked.

Viktor Gyokeres won the Gerd Muller Trophy and finished 15th in the men’s Ballon d’Or, while Declan Rice placed 27th. 

Arsenal Women had a lot more success in the rankings, with Alessia Russo finishing third and Mariona Caldentey finishing runner-up. 

On a night that honoured Europe’s best over the 2024/25 campaign for club and country, Spanish media thought more than Rice and Gyokeres deserved recognition.

• READ MORE: Arsenal fans are now starting to convince themselves that £6m player could win the Ballon d’Or one day

Media in Spain think Mikel Merino should’ve been recognised at the Ballon d’Or

As many as four Arsenal players finished in the top 30 of the 2024 Ballon d’Or, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Rice placing. 

The number was reduced for the 2025 edition of the awards, but Spanish outlet SPORT thought it should’ve been more, suggesting that Mikel Merino was overlooked. 

It was a hugely surprising take from the Catalan newspaper, who said it was ‘surprising’ not to see Merino recognised in the top 30. 

Perhaps even more of a shock was that SPORT drew attention to Merino alongside other Premier League players.

In a piece titled, ‘The great forgotten players of the Ballon d’Or,’ SPORT shed some light on ‘the absence’ of Marc Cucurella, Bruno Fernandes and Merino at the prestigious award ceremony.

Granted, Merino was a revelation during his first season at Arsenal, acting as a striker when his club needed him most, but it’s a surprise to hear that his contribution is considered to be worthy of Ballon d’Or recognition. 

The closest Arsenal players have got to winning the Ballon d’Or

It’s unlikely that Merino will feel hard done by following the awards ceremony, but others at Arsenal might.

Arsenal Women’s midfielder, Caldentey, has been the talk of the town, with many believing that the 29-year-old should’ve beaten Aitana Bonmati to the prize.

The Ballon d’Or hasn’t been kind to Arsenal over the years, with Thierry Henry’s second-place finish in 2003 behind Pavel Nedved sparking outrage in North London.

Henry’s runners-up status was the closest an Arsenal player has come to winning the men’s award.

There have only been eight instances where a player on Arsenal’s books has placed in the top ten of the rankings, with the most recent being Alexis Sanchez’s 10th-place finish in 2015. 

Henry will feel hard done by, having missed out on the award during his prime, but, fortunately, the Frenchman is remembered by far more than getting his hands on the trophy.