Chelsea's Cole Palmer Historic Top-10 Ballon d'Or Finish Without Champions League

Cole Palmer made history by finishing eighth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings, becoming the first player since Neymar in 2011 to break into the top 10 without playing in the Champions League that season, largely due to his key contributions in Chelsea's Conference League and Club World Cup victories. Despite his achievement, Palmer expressed dissatisfaction with his ranking, symbolized by a stack of bricks emoji on Instagram, reflecting some debate among fans and analysts about his deserved position compared to other top players like Harry Kane and Mohammed Salah. Palmer's season was marked by a strong start, a mid-season dip attributed to a persistent groin injury, and a resurgence during crucial matches, including scoring against Bayern Munich in Chelsea's Champions League return. Chelsea's manager, Enzo Maresca, highlighted concerns about Palmer's fitness ahead of upcoming matches but downplayed the likelihood of surgery. Fans displayed mixed reactions to Palmer's ranking, with some supporting his talent and potential to win the Ballon d'Or if Chelsea strengthens its squad and others questioning his placement relative to other players' achievements. Overall, Palmer's rise emphasizes his importance to Chelsea and English football, while raising questions about the club's ability to build a winning team around him and manage his health effectively.