The ranking of Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi in the 2025 Ballon d'Or has sparked much controversy within French media circles, as the Paris Saint-Germain star only managed to secure sixth place despite his outstanding performance last season.

During a discussion on L'Équipe channel, a number of sports analysts agreed that Hakimi was clearly wronged in the ranking, considering that the performance he delivered with his team was exceptional, both in terms of statistics and his defensive and offensive impact and role in playmaking.

One analyst stated: "I am not even a fan of Hakimi, but this player gave me great enjoyment during the last season," before the question arose as to whether the 26-year-old had paid the price for playing as a defender. The answer was clear: "Yes, Hakimi is a victim of his position as a full-back, as voting historically favors attackers over defenders, especially if they are not Brazilian or stars surrounded by massive media hype."

The speakers confirmed that what Hakimi delivered deserved a much better ranking than sixth, but the voting mentality still diminishes the value of defenders, raising again questions about the selection criteria and the evaluation standards for roles on the pitch.