From barefoot beginnings to Champions League nights: Melchie Dumornay brings Haiti to the world stage

Melchie Dumornay is an anomaly.

While so many Haitian talents are left undiscovered, she has become one of the best football players on the planet.

From learning how to play on the streets of Mirebalais to shining under the bright lights of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Dumornay is the ultimate success story.

However, despite flourishing on the world stage, the significance of reaching this point is not lost on her.

“In Haiti, there are so many talents, not only in soccer, that just don’t get a chance,” Dumornay said in an interview with Goal.

“I got that chance to be in an academy, but there are top players and top talents everywhere. It’s important to try and put an eye on Haiti, to not miss any talents – I hope that one day more people get the chance to get out of there.”

A starring role for one of the biggest clubs in the world, OL Lyonnes, ensures that her achievements shine a spotlight on her homeland.

Dumornay’s talent has also converted to the international stage, as she has helped the Haitian national team reach uncharted territory.

With arguably the weight of a nation on her shoulders, the 22-year-old is thriving under the pressure.

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Melchie Dumornay: I don’t set myself any limits

Dumornay, also known as Corventina, knows all about succeeding in the face of adversity.

While growing up in a busy house with her mother, sister and four brothers, the versatile player played football barefoot on the streets of her neighbourhood.

It wasn’t until she was scouted by a Haitian academy that she learned to play the sport with shoes for the first time.

Her 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) stature meant people would write her off before seeing her play, but with a ball at her feet, Dumornay proved any doubters wrong.

Part of her success is down to the mentality she possesses — one that saw her move from Haiti to France in pursuit of a dream move to Lyon.

“I don’t set myself any limits,” she explained in an interview with FIFA. “I try to improve every day, and I train with the best [players] at my club who make me grow a lot.

“I’m very demanding of myself and learn from my mistakes.”

The self-belief she possesses could be credited to the inspiration she takes from her sporting heroes, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

While Dumornay believes her speed and strength resemble Ronaldo's, it is Messi's football brain that she most admires.

“Nobody can copy Messi,” she told The Guardian. “But I try to have that intelligence that he has in his game.”

Like both players, Melchie is writing her own story for club and country.

History with Haiti

In 2023, Haiti participated in their first-ever Women’s World Cup, and Dumornay played a key role in getting them there.

Facing Chile in the qualifying playoffs, the nation’s brightest spark scored twice to secure the win, with the decisive goal coming in the eighth minute of stoppage time.

Although Haiti went on to exit the World Cup tournament without a win, it was evident that this was a side who were just getting started on the international stage.

More importantly, their World Cup campaign gave people back home something to cheer about.

“Football is very special to us in Haiti – everyone loves football,” Melchie said in an interview with UEFA.

“We love this sport. If I had to describe what football is like for a girl like me in Haiti, I would say that I obviously faced difficulties because of my size and gender… It was pretty hard at first, but once I started, we all fought for what we wanted and to be accepted.

“I was accepted by everyone – in my neighbourhood, everyone knew my name.”

Qualifying for major tournaments has become more than just a sporting objective for Haiti's football team. It is a way for them to break barriers in their homeland.

In an interview with FIFA, the attack-minded sensation explained she is eyeing yet another World Cup outing in 2027, when the tournament takes place in Brazil.

“We’re working hard to prepare and we’re going to do everything we can to qualify,” she remarked.

“We’ve already tasted a World Cup, and we don’t want to miss another one. We’re going to go there with all our soul, face our opponents, and do our country proud.”

Melchie Dumornay: Living the dream with Lyon

Playing for OL Lyonnes has been a dream come true for Dumornay.

After making a name for herself with her national team and Stade de Reims, with whom she spent two years, several top clubs expressed an interest in signing her.

For Corventina, however, her next move was a no-brainer.

“Coming to Lyon was a dream and I feel like I’m living that dream,” she explained to UEFA.

“I’m very happy and I have teammates that I knew by name and that I now know. I’m very happy and it’s going well.

“We have a very close-knit group, and I think that’s what [makes] the difference.”

Dumornay has worn the colours of the French giants since 2023, going from strength to strength at the club.

Last term, she registered a career-best return in the Division 1 Feminine, scoring 16 times and assisting seven.

This season, she is already off the mark, although the biggest headlines came from a dazzling Champions League outing against Arsenal.

Scoring twice to complete a 2-1 turnaround victory, Dumornay delivered the display of a player who knows her strengths and intends to play to them.

If they continue with this form, Lyon may well add a staggering ninth European title to their trophy cabinet, as they look to extend their reign as the competition’s most successful side, with Dumornay right at the heart of it.

However, more than a world-class talent, Dumornay has become a beacon of hope for the young girls in Haiti who refuse to be defined by circumstance.

Her rise from the streets of Mirebalais to the heights of European football is not only a personal triumph but also a stark reminder of the brilliance waiting to be unearthed in all corners of the globe.

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