Ballon d'Or curse strikes again as Ousmane Dembélé's 2026 World Cup dream ends

**© Shaun Botterill/Getty Images**Dembélé could not break the curse

There was another chapter added to the Ballon d’Or curse after the 2026 World Cup semifinals, as Spain beat France to ensure Ousmane Dembélé became the latest player to continue the trend.

The forward joined the list of current Ballon d’Or winners who failed to win the World Cup. Even after France’s strong performances throughout the tournament, they were unable to play at their best in the semifinal defeat.

With his World Cup dream ending earlier than expected, Dembélé has scored five goals in seven matches, including a hat trick against Norway. He will have one more opportunity to improve that tally in the third-place match.

Ballon d’Or year	Ballon d’Or winner	National team	World Cup winner
2025	Ousmane Dembélé	France	Unknown (France eliminated)
2022	Karim Benzema	France	Argentina
2017	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	France
2013	Cristiano Ronaldo	Portugal	Germany
2009	Lionel Messi	Argentina	Spain
2005	Ronaldinho	Brazil	Italy
2001	Michael Owen	England	Brazil
1997	Ronaldo	Brazil	France
1993	Roberto Baggio	Italy	Brazil
1989	Marco van Basten	Netherlands	Germany
1985	Michel Platini	France	Argentina
1981	Karl-Heinz Rummenigge	West Germany	Italy
1977	Allan Simonsen	Denmark	Argentina
1973	Johan Cruyff	Netherlands	Germany
1969	Gianni Rivera	Italy	Brazil
1965	Eusébio	Portugal	England
1961	Omar Sívori	Italy	Brazil
1957	Alfredo Di Stéfano	Spain	Brazil