Inter Milan & Dutch Wingback In Shock After Ballon d’Or Ranking Unveiled: “Wow, I Finished Ahead Of Haaland” | OneFootball

Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries admits finishing above Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland was an incredible feeling.

Speaking to De Volkskrant and VoetbalPrimeur via FCInterNews, Dumfries commented on the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony.

Denzel Dumfries enjoyed a sterling season in 2024/25, helping the Nerazzurri reach the Champions League final.

Furthermore, he played a pivotal role in Inter’s semi-final win over Barcelona.

Indeed, he was unplayable in both legs, scoring twice to help the Nerazzurri defy the odds and enter the final.

In doing so, the 29-year-old earned a nomination for the Ballon d’Or.

However, competition for the most prestigious individual award in European football was formidable.

Therefore, the Dutchman never stood a chance of claiming the prize. Yet, the sole nomination was a testament to his noticeable growth at San Siro.

Meanwhile, his teammate, Lautaro Martinez, had to settle for a second seventh-place finish in three years.

Inter Milan Star Denzel Dumfries on Finishing Above Erling Haaland in Ballon d’Or Race

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 27: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale applauds the fans after 1-0 defeat following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and AS Roma at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 27, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Dumfries finished 25th in the Ballon d’Or race after a phenomenal season in the Champions League.

“When I reflect on it, as I recently did after the Ballon d’Or ceremony, I am proud of myself,” the Inter full-back said.

“Then I think: ‘Well done, great job.’

“Once I learned from coach Alex Pastoor that you have to enjoy the moment, that you can be aware of where you are and be proud of it.

“Sometimes it’s difficult; it’s good to broaden your perspective.

“Being busy with so many things, you sometimes forget to look at where you came from.”

Then, he admitted that finishing above Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland caught him by surprise.

“It was special to experience it, among all those world-class stars,” he added. “It was an honor to be among the top thirty in the world.

“I wore a really nice suit. I received many compliments. Wow, I finished above Haaland in the rankings.

“It was the culmination of a season with many beautiful.”

Meanwhile, Dumfries also reflected on Inter’s defeat in last season’s Champions League final.

“Losing the Champions League final like that,” Dumfries claimed. “Don’t write this word, write ‘terrible.’

“So the way Inter lost to PSG was ‘terrible.’ Two Champions League finals in three years.

“Then sometimes I try to broaden my perspective and think: ‘Denzel, you should be proud,’ he concluded.

Denzel Dumfries on His Competitive Spirit

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 18: Denzel Dumfries of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SS Lazio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 18, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Known as a fierce competitor, Dumfries has often been Inter’s driving force on the wing.

“My mentality is like this,” Dumfries revealed. “I can’t get injured, I can’t do this and that,” he explained. “That’s how it went in my life, unconsciously.

“Because of this mentality, I entered a flow, a tunnel. I always have to keep going. I’m very strict about this.

“At the top, you always have to apply standards of discipline and rigor to yourself.

“I will turn 30 in April,” Dumfries continued. “I’m at a different stage in my career. I still want to achieve certain goals.

“And I’m also a father; the most important thing is to find the right balance between things.

“It’s a challenge, even with my youth organization. We’re growing, we’re making an impact: it’s fantastic.

“We hear stories of young people who left us and have returned to study regularly or found a job. That’s why we do all this.

“I can take the initiative, providing energy to the team. Leading the fight, in a somewhat un-Dutch way.

“Other countries have an advantage over the Netherlands.

“In this sense, I can think outside the box and ensure the next step of growth in this process.

“Argentina, for example, does everything to win: they leave nothing to chance.

“We might be a bit too orderly, but it’s part of the game. It’s not the most important thing, but it could give us an extra percentage of success.

“Taking the game beyond the limit. Committing that unnecessary foul to stop the attack.

“Yes, at Inter, we’re masters at this. If you don’t do it there, it’s worse than doing it later.

“We don’t hesitate to commit a foul, to slightly cross the line. We should do it more here.”