These 3 PSG stars were forgotten in the Ballon d'Or race and it's honestly embarrassing!

PSG had more than just Kylian Mbappé. Why did the Ballon d'Or voters forget that?

Every Ballon d'Or season, the same story plays out. The spotlight zooms in on the flashiest goals, the viral clips, and the narratives that are easiest to package. But football real football is built on more than headline-grabbing moments. It’s built on the players who hold it all together, who show up every week and make their teams better without needing to trend on social media.

That’s what made PSG’s 2024 campaign so special. It wasn’t just Mbappé’s swan song. It was a new kind of PSG one less obsessed with galáctico glamour and more committed to balance, unity, and tactical evolution. And yet, three of the biggest reasons behind that shift Bradley Barcola, Marquinhos, and Willian Pacho were nowhere to be found when the Ballon d'Or conversation heated up.

It’s not just a snub. It’s a symptom of a football culture that still doesn’t know how to appreciate anything but goals and glitter.

Bradley Barcola is becoming a star and doing it the hard way

Let’s be real: Barcola wasn’t supposed to be this good, this fast. When he left Lyon for PSG, some fans questioned whether he’d even start. By the end of the season, he was undroppable.

What makes Barcola’s rise so special is how it came from grit and growth. He didn’t just rely on pace or tricks. He became smarter, more composed in the final third, and learned how to make the players around him better. His link-up play with Mbappé and Hakimi added a layer of unpredictability that PSG desperately needed.

In the Champions League, he didn’t just show up he stole scenes. His display against Barcelona in the quarterfinal second leg was electric: an assist, endless dribbles, and a constant sense of danger. Ballon d'Or nods are supposed to reward players who show up when it matters. Barcola did that. And yet, silence.

Marquinhos is the heartbeat of PSG why is he still invisible to voters?

Here’s a question: if Marquinhos played for Real Madrid or Manchester City, would he still be this ignored?

Year after year, the PSG captain puts in elite-level performances, but he rarely gets the credit. Maybe it’s because he’s not a loud personality. Maybe it’s because his defending is subtle rather than flashy. Whatever the reason, the football world continues to underrate one of the most consistent and intelligent center-backs of his generation.

This past season, Marquinhos didn’t just defend he organized, adapted, and elevated a backline that featured plenty of moving parts. Whether playing in a back three or a flat four, he was the glue. Against top European opposition, he showed positional awareness and composure that many "bigger names" lack entirely.

Leadership, tactical intelligence, elite defensive numbers and somehow, that’s still not enough for a Ballon d'Or mention?

Willian Pacho: the PSG signing no one talked about, but everyone relied on

Sometimes, the best signings are the quiet ones. Pacho didn’t arrive with fanfare. But if you watched PSG week in and week out, you noticed something: they looked calmer, smarter, and more in control when he was on the pitch.

Only 23, Pacho brought a level of maturity well beyond his age. He was always in the right place, rarely got flustered, and gave PSG something they haven’t always had balance. His ball progression helped build attacks, while his physicality covered for others’ mistakes.

If Ballon d’Or voters truly cared about two-way impact and consistency, Pacho’s name would be on that list. But because he doesn’t have a highlight reel on loop, he gets left out of the conversation. Again.

This isn’t just about PSG it’s about how we value football

The Ballon d'Or will always have a popularity bias. But it shouldn’t be this predictable. Players like Barcola, Marquinhos, and Pacho aren’t asking for sympathy they’re earning respect. And the fact that they were completely ignored says more about the award than it does about their performances.

We need to broaden the lens. Football isn’t just about golden boots and goal counts. It’s about the guys who win their duels, who track back when nobody’s watching, who set the tempo without ever needing applause.

"PSG is evolving. The Ballon d'Or should too."

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