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Zidane’s Silence Casts Shadow on Dembélé’s 2025 French Player Triumph
Zidane’s silence raises eyebrows in France Football award vote
Paris, January 2025 — In a surprising twist, renowned French football icon Zinédine Zidane has sparked intrigue by abstaining from the recent France Football 2025 Best French Player vote. His absence has fueled speculation and debate within the football community.
Zidane’s unexpected silence
The annual voting for the best French footballer is always a closely watched event, not only for the accolades it bestows but also for the symbolic choices of the voters. This year, a significant detail went unnoticed by the public until it became a topic of discussion: the expected input from Zidane was missing.
When the list of previous winners invited to vote was released, the silence of some, including Zidane, became notable. The former Ballon d’Or winner and a football legend, Zidane chose not to participate in the 2025 vote. His decision, whether intentional or simply a quiet withdrawal, carries symbolic weight.
Dembélé crowned without Zidane’s endorsement
By not voting, Zidane inadvertently denied Ousmane Dembélé a prestigious endorsement, alongside other notable absentees like Didier Deschamps and Thierry Henry. This resulted in a vote that was complete yet lacked some high-profile voices.
Dembélé was ultimately named the 2025 Best French Player with 121 points, a significant lead over Kylian Mbappé, who finished second and had placed Dembélé at the top of his own ranking. While Dembélé’s victory was decisive, Zidane’s absence remains a noticeable void.
Speculations and future implications
Whether Zidane’s abstention signifies a personal disagreement, a conflict with France Football, or simply a lack of interest is unclear. Some suggest he might be preoccupied, perhaps following his son Luca’s progress with Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations, far removed from French football debates.
This abstention did not alter the final outcome, but it leaves a mark. If Zidane were to assume leadership of the French national team post-2026, his relationship with Dembélé would start on uncertain terms, adding a layer of complexity to future interactions.
