Overview:
Haitian soccer star Melchie Daëlle Dumornay has made historical past once more by turning into the primary Haitian participant to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. Nonetheless, her probabilities of profitable the distinguished award are slim as a result of Haiti didn’t take part in any main worldwide tournaments throughout the 2024-25 season, and her membership, Olympique Lyonnais, was eradicated early within the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League.
CAP-HAÏTIEN — Mirebalais native Melchie Daëlle “Corventina” Dumornay continues to attain what as soon as appeared unreachable for Haitian athletes on the worldwide stage.
After profitable the CONCACAF Participant of the Yr in 2024, Dumornay made historical past once more on Aug. 7 by turning into the primary Haitian ever nominated for the France Soccer Women’s Ballon d’Or, putting her amongst the top 30 players on this planet this 12 months. Dumornay wasn’t nominated final 12 months regardless of reaching the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League closing, which pissed off followers and native analysts—particularly given she received the CONCACAF award forward of 5 American gamers who have been nominated.
“That is big for the nation as a result of it is a participant who was developed in Haiti,” mentioned Otniel Despagne, a educated soccer fan in Port-au-Prince.
“We’re very comfortable. This can be a lovely picture for the nation. Congrats to Dumornay.”
The Haitian celebrity was a robust contender to win the Ballon d’Or as of April. Nonetheless, her membership, French large Olympique Lyonnais—not too long ago rebranded OL Lyonnes—was eradicated within the Champions League semifinals and solely secured the home league title.
On the worldwide stage, Haiti did not qualify for main tournaments, together with the 2025 Gold Cup. The nationwide staff’s underwhelming performances, largely as a consequence of inner administrative points, considerably harm Dumornay’s probabilities of profitable the distinguished award—even being shortlisted among the many prime finalists.
The versatile midfielder presently ranks 14th in Goal.com’s Ballon d’Or predictions. Spanish gamers, former winner Alexia Putellas and Mariona Caldentey, are thought of the frontrunners—Putellas received a home treble with FC Barcelona, together with La Liga, Copa de la Reina and the Supercopa, whereas Caldentey claimed the Champions League title with Arsenal and helped Spain end second within the UEFA Ladies’s Championship.
Different favorites for the award embrace Spanish participant and present holder Aitana Bonmatí and English participant Hannah Hampton, who received a home treble with Chelsea and lifted the EURO 2025 trophy with England — incomes a spot on the staff of the event.
This 12 months marks the primary time the awards are increasing to incorporate a ladies’s Kopa and Yachine trophies for youthful gamers and goalkeepers, respectively — as with the lads’s awards.
The timeframe for the award runs from Aug. 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025. The standards embrace particular person performances, staff performances and sportsmanship, with worldwide competitions being rated extremely for a prime end.
As a result of worldwide competitions carry substantial weight in Ballon d’Or choices, Dumornay’s possibilities in future years could stay slim except Haiti qualifies for main tournaments or she secures a number of trophies with Lyon.
“Worldwide competitions rely rather a lot—it’s a plus for the opposite gamers she’s competing with,” mentioned Despagne, 28. “However that alone mustn’t cease her from profitable. If she had stored her rhythm and received the Champions League, she would’ve received the Ballon d’Or. That’s my opinion.”
A standout season on the membership stage
Regardless of the nationwide staff’s absence, Dumornay had a dominant season along with her membership OL Lyon. She led the staff in scoring throughout all competitions with 22 objectives in 29 video games, taking part in primarily as a midfielder.
She was named the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League Younger Participant of the Season, contributing considerably to the membership’s semifinal run. Dumornay scored twice in a 5-1 combination win over Bayern Munich within the quarterfinals, together with a vital equalizer within the second leg.
Within the semifinals, she netted the profitable purpose in a 2-1 first-leg victory over Arsenal. She additionally scored within the second leg, though Lyon misplaced 4-1, ending their Champions League marketing campaign.
The winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or will probably be introduced on Sept. 22 on the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France. Whereas Dumornay is unlikely to take residence essentially the most coveted trophy this 12 months, her nomination alone marks a historic second for Haitian sports activities—and Haiti itself.