A few days ago, the names of the 30 footballers who are candidates for the 2026 Ballon d'Or were announced. Never before has there been so much uncertainty about the name of the winner as this year. Because there are a number of footballers who stand out above the others, but there is no extremely strong candidacy and for this reason everyone tries to support their candidate. Yamal would already like the trophy, he knows that he is favored, but his triumph is by no means certain. Luis Enrique talks about four PSG footballers who could be candidates, while Harry Kane, six weeks before the trophy is handed over, seems the clear favorite.
Lamine Yamal wants the Ballon d'Or
Everything is decided? Maybe so. But there is no absolute and total certainty. The World Cup has not defined a strong candidate, but has brought out candidacies and, paradoxically, has strengthened that of the Georgian Kvaratskhelia, who, without the World Cup, would have been the absolute favorite. Barcelona president Joan Laporta supports the name of Lamine Yamal, who is not officially a candidate himself, but on the eve of Barcelona-Feyenoord has stung Dembélé and Mbappé.
Two with one blow. The reigning trophy winner had selected a top three made up of Kane, Kvaratskhelia and Mbappé, completely excluding the Spaniards. Yamal did not take this well, pointing out the friendship between the French footballers. Flick also supported him, while Rodri, another strong candidate, limited himself to saying that the most important thing is that a Spaniard wins.
Luis Enrique supports his own, those of PSG
At the Parc des Princes, Kvicha Kvaratskhelia was named the best player of last season in the Champions League, and based on the last Champions League alone, he should have won the trophy hands down. Luis Enrique praised the Georgian after PSG's 6-1 win over Slovan Bratislava, but also proposed three other candidates from his players:
"Kvara is a top-level player, a top-level player, who can win the Ballon d'Or. The same goes for Vitinhán, Fabian or Ousmane. When I hear the song 'Ousmane Ballon d'Or', I feel like we could have another one in the future."
Harry Kane remains the favourite: ready to win an important trophy
Barcelona has played in the Champions League, PSG as well as Real Madrid led by Kylian Mbappé, who, on the contrary, goes against the grain by saying that yes, he would like to win the Ballon d'Or, but if he had to choose, he would prefer the Champions League.
Meanwhile, the one who has not yet debuted in this edition of the Champions League is the footballer who, with his goals, should receive the Golden Ball, namely Harry Kane, who quietly continues his journey seeking to win the trophy, which would be another great personal achievement.
