The 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist has been released, and as is generally the case there is disgruntlement over some of the inclusions and exclusions. Following a difficult season, it is perhaps unsurprising that Manchester City do not have many players nominated for awards, with Erling Haaland the only nominee in any category even despite his relative drop in form. Many City fans were shocked, however, that Haaland’s strike partner Omar Marmoush was not included among the 30 selected players.
Here are the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/tehmbU4R0j
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025
Bundesliga Breakout
Omar Marmoush set the Bundesliga ablaze during the first half of last season while playing for Eintracht Frankfurt, notching an incredible 15 goals and 10 assists during the club’s first 17 games of the season. To put his numbers into perspective, his total of 25 combined goals and assists is a figure only matched by 3 other Bundesliga players across the entire season; Harry Kane (36), Michael Olise (30) and Serhou Guirassy (25), all of whom are included in the Ballon d’Or list. Also included in the list is Premier League record signing Florian Wirtz, who managed 23 goals and assists across the whole Bundesliga season, two less than Marmoush had prior to his transfer to Manchester City.
Omar Marmoush NOT nominated for the Ballon d’Or despite 28 goals and 17 assists last season. 🚫 pic.twitter.com/qo0tgCOnkX
— City Report (@cityreport_) August 7, 2025
January Transfer
Adding onto this already impressive season was the Egyptian’s form following his €75m transfer to a struggling Manchester City, who were looking to kickstart their rebuild midway through last season. Marmoush made 14 league starts for City, helped by an injury sustained by Erling Haaland in an FA Cup tie against Bournemouth. In those games he scored 7 goals and managed 2 assists, taking his league tally for the season to a combined 22 goals and 12 assists. A further 6 goals and 5 assists across European and cup competitions takes his combined goals and assists to 45. Stats like these make it hard to believe that the player has been ignored from a 30-man shortlist that includes players with far less impressive individual seasons.
Conclusion
Ultimately, despite his impressive season, Marmoush was not going to be in contention to win football’s ultimate individual honour. But his form across the season, both for Frankfurt and Manchester City, surely warranted acknowledgment with a nomination, and the Egyptian must feel very hard done by to not have received one.
