Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella dreams of 'historic' Ballon d’Or triumph, but admits taking award from forwards is 'not easy'
By Jonny Bray
Published 04/09/2025 at 18:59 GMT+1
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Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella wants to make history by becoming the first full-back to win the Ballon d'Or. Several full-backs have finished in the top three in the race to win football's most coveted individual honour. However, no one who specialises in the position has ever won the prize. This year's winner will be announced on September 22.
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Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella wants to make history by becoming the first full-back ever to win the Ballon d’Or.
Legends of the position like Roberto Carlos, Andreas Brehme, and Paul Breitner have all finished in the top three in years gone by, but no full-back has ever claimed the most coveted individual honour in world football.
Cucurella has not been selected on the shortlist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or despite an impressive 12 months with The Blues, but Denzel Dumfries, Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi are all in the running.
The left-back admits that it would be very difficult to defy convention and win the award as a full-back.
"Well, I don’t know... anything can happen!" he told AS after being asked about the Ballon d’Or. "I wish, but it would be very difficult.
"It would certainly be historic, and on a personal level, it would be unforgettable. But it’s not easy."
Cucurella lifted the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea last term, after scoring seven goals and producing four assists in 54 appearances across all competitions.
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His performances also helped the club secure a return to the UEFA Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.
The last full-back to even come close to winning the Ballon d’Or was Spain and Real Madrid legend Dani Carvajal last year, as he earned fourth spot in the rankings.
In order to finish fourth, he had to play a leading role in Los Blancos’ Champions League and La Liga triumphs before helping Spain win Euro 2024.
The favourites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or are currently Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembele, who are both forwards.
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Cucurella believes it is only natural for fans of the beautiful game to focus on the players who score goals.
"Well, in the end, people focus on the forwards," he added. "They turn on the TV and want to see the ones who score goals, and I’m the first!
"I understand that those who vote for those who have the most entertaining games, but a defender [centre-back] has won before, and it could happen again."
The winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or will be announced on September 22.
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