Arsenal fans furious over William Saliba’s low Ballon d’Or ranking

William Saliba

Bukayo Saka

Gabriel Magalhães

Arsenal supporters have reacted with anger following the disclosure of the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings, which placed central defender William Saliba in joint-29th place. The voting figures, revealed in London ahead of the main ceremony and reported by football.london, have sparked widespread criticism online regarding the treatment of Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Saliba was one of three Arsenal players included on the 30-man shortlist following a historic season for the North London club. The French international shared 29th position with former Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, who now plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr.

Disappointment over defensive duo

The low placing came despite Saliba playing an essential role in Arsenal securing their first Premier League trophy in 22 years. The France international also helped Arteta’s side reach their first Champions League final since 2006, where they eventually fell to a 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat against Paris Saint-Germain after a 1-1 draw.

Highlighting the Frenchman’s influence during the previous campaign, the official Ballon d’Or website noted:

“The cornerstone of Arsenal’s title success – their first for 22 years – William’s lethal combination of elegant and robust defending helped Arsenal procure 26 clean sheets last season.”

Despite those achievements, voters placed Saliba at the bottom of the rankings, while his central defensive partner Gabriel Magalhaes finished in 21st place. Midfielder Declan Rice was the highest-ranked player from the club, coming in at 15th position.

Supporters criticize the voting outcomes

The voting placements triggered swift backlash from the club’s fanbase, with many arguing that the trio deserved far higher recognition after keeping 26 clean sheets across the campaign. Supporters questioned how the panellists evaluated individual performances over the past year.

Writing on social media in response to the announcement, fans described the positions as unfair. One supporter stated that Rice and Gabriel are currently the top operators in their respective positions globally, whilst another described the low placements for the defensive pairing as a total lack of respect towards the Premier League champions.

The controversy surrounding the rankings overshadowed what was otherwise a proud evening for the club in the capital.

Bukayo Saka receives humanitarian honour

While the ranking positions generated debate, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was recognised at the ceremony for his extensive charitable contributions outside of football. As reported by the Evening Standard, Saka was presented with the Socrates Award, an accolade established in 2022 to honour humanitarian achievements by professional players.

Saka was chosen for his ongoing initiatives alongside his family and the charity organisation Big Shoe, which delivers medical support and aid to children in London and internationally. Accepting the award on stage, Bukayo Saka said:

“We know how it feels to be a child and having a ball at your feet and how much joy you have.”

The England international emphasised his personal commitment to using his profile to assist young people across the world, expressing his gratitude to the organisers while receiving the honour.

Reflecting on the impact of the aid projects, Bukayo Saka added:

“Every time I have the opportunity to help another kid have that feeling again, that’s important to me.”

Saka concluded his acceptance speech by highlighting the wider purpose behind the recognition, noting the collective effort involved in changing young lives.

“It’s an honour to be here, and it’s an honour to receive this award. On behalf of all the children we’ve been able to help, thank you.”