'I finished above Erling Haaland!' - Inter star says beating Man City star in Ballon d'Or rankings was 'crowning achievement' after wearing 'really nice suit' at gala

The Dutch right-back capped off a remarkable 2024-25 campaign that saw him score 11 goals in all competitions, the most in his career, as Inter reached the Champions League final before losing to Paris Saint-Germain. The 29-year-old was also productive for the national side, netting four goals for the Netherlands. It was a season that earned him a first-ever Ballon d'Or nomination. 

Speaking to Volkskrant, Dumfries described the Paris gala as a surreal but proud moment and couldn’t resist joking about his finish ahead of Haaland, saying it was a 'crowning achievement.' Notably, Haaland finished 26th after scoring 34 goals for a Manchester City side that failed to win a major trophy under Pep Guardiola last season.

"It was special to experience the Ballon d’Or gala, being among all those world stars. It was an honour to be listed among the top thirty players in the world," Dumfries said. "I had a really good suit on, got a lot of compliments for it. And hey, I even finished a spot above Haaland! It was the reward for a season with a lot of good matches."

PSG forward Ousmane Dembele ultimately claimed the Ballon d’Or, while Dumfries’ teammate Lautaro Martinez was the only other Inter player to feature in the top 30 of the final rankings.

The 29-year-old, who joined Inter in 2021, admitted he is unlikely to match last season’s goal-scoring numbers, pointing out that scoring more goals and assists is 'almost impossible' for a defender.

"I think about what could be better, but I also have to be realistic. More goals and assists are almost impossible for a defender," he added. "Should I still chase that, or do I focus on improving the substance of my game? That’s where I put my emphasis, being more involved in the build-up, more dominant in play."

A senior figure in the Dutch national setup, Dumfries said he wants to bring more intensity to the team, which he believes the current setup lacks. He has 69 caps under his belt and has been ever-present in Ronald Koeman's starting XI as the Oranje stormed to the top of Group G in World Cup qualifying, having won all but one of their six matches so far. With two games left to go, they are sure of a play-off spot but are aiming to finish as group winners ahead of Portugal.

"I can also take the lead in bringing energy to the team, to lead the fight, in a way that’s not typically Dutch," said the full-back. "I can set the tone. I need to do that even more. Other countries have an advantage over the Netherlands in that area. I can colour outside the lines and help take that next step in our development. Argentina, for example, does everything to win. They leave nothing unused. Maybe we’re a bit too proper.

"It’s part of it, not the most important thing, but it can be that extra one percent. Just getting that game over the line. Making a foul where it’s needed to stop a counterattack. At Inter, we’re masters at that. If you don’t do it there, it’s worse than if you do. We don’t hesitate to make a foul, to go a little over the edge. We could do that more here."

The 2025-26 season has started well for Dumfries, with two goals in eight games across all competitions. His focus, though, is not just on club football. With Netherlands preparing for next year’s World Cup, Dumfries believes this team has what it takes to do something special.

"With this fantastic group, we have the potential to go for the highest possible goal. Yes, I truly believe that," he said.

"Everything has to fall into place, and that’s partly in our control. We still need to add that extra one percent in some areas. Not everything is perfect yet."

Dumfries’ focus now shifts to helping Inter climb back to the top of Serie A, with the club currently sitting fourth after winning four of their first six games. The Nerazzurri, who were in the hunt for a treble until March 2025, ended the last season empty-handed after falling short in the Coppa Italia semi-final, finishing runners-up in Serie A and losing the Champions League final.

The Italian giants return to action after the international break with a tough trip to the Stadio Olimpico to face Roma on October 18.