Overview:
Melchie Dumornay finished among the top five finalists for Globe Soccer’s Women’s Player of the Year, becoming the first Haitian to reach that level. The 22-year-old OL Lyonnes midfielder continues to cement her place among the world’s elite, with strong prospects to win a global award in the years ahead.
Melchie “Corventina” Dumornay did not win the Globe Soccer Women’s Player of the Year award in Dubai on Sunday. Still, her inclusion among the top five finalists marked a historic milestone for Haitian soccer—and another signal that the 22-year-old homegrown talent has firmly established herself among the world’s elite.
FC Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, the reigning Ballon d’Or and FIFA The Best winner, captured the Globe Soccer honor for the second consecutive year during the grandiose ceremony held on Dec. 28. The other finalists were Spain’s Mariona Caldentey and Alexia Putellas, and England international Alessia Russo.
Although finalists are not ranked beyond the winner, Dumornay’s presence on the list made her the first Haitian player—male or female—to finish in the top five of a global soccer award, a breakthrough moment for the Mirebalais native and for Haitian football as a whole.
The shortlist announcement earlier this month for the 16th edition of the global award sparked widespread celebration among Haitians at home and in the diaspora, reflecting Dumornay’s growing symbolic importance beyond the pitch.
Neither Dumornay nor the Haitian Football Federation (FHF) commented publicly following the awards ceremony.
A young star among the world’s best
Dumornay’s top-five finish builds on a string of global recognitions that few players her age have matched. This year alone, she placed 18th in the Ballon d’Or and 11th in FIFA’s The Best Women’s Player rankings, despite limited international competition with Haiti. She also won Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year for the second time in two years, after first claiming the award in 2024.
At club level, Dumornay enjoyed the most productive season of her career. She was named UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season, finished as joint top scorer in France’s D1 Arkema, and scored in four consecutive Champions League matches to help OL Lyonnes reach the semifinals.
Her impact, however, was not matched by silverware. Lyon captured only the domestic league title in 2025, and Haiti did not play a competitive international match during the year—factors analysts say weighed against Dumornay in global voting.
Trajectory still pointing upward
Globe Soccer winners are selected through a combination of fan voting and a jury that includes former soccer stars Ian Rush, Eric Abidal, Iker Casillas, Francesco Totti and Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano.
Founded in 2010, the Globe Soccer Awards have become one of football’s major end-of-year honors, recognizing top performers across men’s and women’s soccer worldwide.
For Dumornay, the 2025 result reinforces a trajectory that suggests global titles may be a matter of when, not if. With Haiti set to return to the World Cup qualifying campaign in 2026, and with Dumornay entering her prime years at Lyon, her opportunities to climb higher in global rankings are likely to expand.
OL Lyonnes resumes competition on Jan. 11 against Saint-Étienne in the Coupe de France. Les Grenadières, meanwhile, are expected to play their next World Cup qualifier in February.
At just 22, Dumornay is already among the world’s best—and her historic top-five finish suggests her greatest accolades may still lie ahead.
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