Ignored by the FFF after Ballon d'Or nomination, Wendie Renard speaks out publicly

Wendie Renard publicly called out the French Football Federation (FFF) after it failed to congratulate her on her sixth nomination for the 2026 women’s Ballon d’Or, announced on Tuesday alongside the list of thirty shortlisted players.

It was a message from her former France teammate Eugénie Le Sommer that sparked the reaction. The player had written to the Lyon defender: “Because some people forgot to congratulate you…”, accompanied by applause emojis. Renard then shared the message and added her own blunt response: “Thanks Eugé. Apparently, wearing the France jersey for all these years is no longer enough to be considered French when it comes time for congratulations. But anyway… Proud of this sixth Ballon d’Or nomination.”

The jab takes on particular resonance given the context. Wendie Renard has not been called up to the national team since Laurent Bonadei’s arrival as head coach. Her last appearance in the blue jersey dates back to February 25, 2025, in a Nations League match against Iceland (3-2 victory). The player, who has 168 caps and 39 goals for the Bleues, had already taken poorly to how the end of her time with the national team was handled.

The FFF’s lack of official reaction to such a symbolic nomination — the sixth of her career for one of the most decorated defenders in French women’s football history — was enough to reopen a wound that clearly remains raw.