They are all there except him. All Parisian outfield players starting in the Champions League final were in fact selected, except Désiré Doué. The list of 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has been released. EtcAs always, there are its share of surprises, notably the absence of Désiré Doué, who nevertheless shone with PSG in their quest for a second Champions League last spring.
The choice to have left aside the 14th of last year surprises, and even scandalizes Jérôme Rothen on the airwaves of RMC. “Either they have shit in their eyes or they don’t watch the games,
said the consultant, very upset. When you see PSG’s campaign last year, if Désiré Doué had been average, do you think he would have played all the important matches? Luis Enrique would have withdrawn it, especially with the competition. »
“ Doué has always played the important matches. Watch Doué’s matches up to the Champions League final, it’s very often he who makes the difference. In the half and final, he was one of the best players “,
he insisted about the former Rennais, who remained on the pitch for 120 minutes against Arsenal in the final.
Jérôme Rothen defends Désiré Doué
The absence of the Golden Boy 2025 raises questions all the more as certain names present in this list raise questions, like the Senegalese Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr) and the Mexican Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah FC). “You take him off the list of 30 and put some in?” »asked the former Monegasque before defending the Parisian player.
“At times, he makes superfluous gestures. Why does he have them? When you feel on top, you sometimes want to please yourself, explained Jérôme Rothen. You’re going to try a complicated move. That doesn’t mean he’s got a big head and that makes him a bad guy. Against Rennes, PSG got by thanks to Ferran Torres but fortunately Désiré Doué was there.
He was the only one with legs. Why did it disappear from the list? »
