Exclusive: "The selection for the Ballon d'Or is emotional...!" Foot Africa expert gives his opinion!

Exclusive Interview

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Social media is currently buzzing with controversy over the winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or, presented by France Football as the world's best player. The ceremony, held annually in Paris, is eagerly awaited by most football fans to discover the winner of this valuable individual award, which is chosen by votes from football experts around the world, including coaches, national team captains, journalists, and others.

To discuss this matter further and the controversy surrounding this award each year, Foot Africa hosted international sports journalist Waheed Rizk Almasri, who works as a sports journalist for Al Arabiya and has over thirty years of experience covering sports events.

Waheed Rizk Almasri and Fabrizio Romano

Journalist: Mr Waheed, we know the award is given by annual vote. But in your opinion, who deserves to win it based on both individual and collective performance this past season?

Waheed: While awards based on voting will always be subjective, influenced by personal taste and emotion, this isn't entirely a bad thing. Football is, first and foremost, about enjoyment and passion; the other details come later. If I were to vote purely based on my own personal taste and sentiment, I might even abstain from giving a first-place vote this year. The differences in the level of enjoyment provided by several players are currently very slight.

Waheed Razik Almasri

Journalist: There is significant debate every year, regardless of the winner, about the criteria used for selection. In your view, is a voting system logical, or should the winner be chosen solely based on their team's results and their direct contributions?

Waheed: The selection method always depends on the organizing body. France Football relies on a vote from a panel of journalists it selects itself. FIFA blends votes from media, national team coaches, and captains, along with fan votes. Meanwhile, in Serie A, the Player of the Year is chosen by an algorithm based on statistical metrics, with no voting involved. The logical conclusion is that our opinions on the 'best' method will naturally differ.

🥇 Who should win the Ballon d'Or?#UCL || @ballondorpic.twitter.com/C6WM0p632M

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 22, 2025

Journalist: Fans often forget that these awards involve a significant amount of promotion for the presenting organizations, like France Football. Ultimately, it's also about business and money. Do you think fans sometimes overreact when the winner is announced each year?

Waheed: Fans are aware that promotion and publicity are part of the game, but they reject it when the outcome goes against their personal favorite player or a player from their favorite team. The overreaction is often amplified by influencers and media outlets seeking greater reach and higher viewership. The controversy itself becomes fuel for the business side of the sport.