Ousmane Dembele had barely settled back into his chair at Paris’ Theatre du Chatelet last September, gold-dipped orb in hand, when the campaigns for the 2026 Ballon d’Or began to whirr into action. In a World Cup year, the race for football’s biggest individual prize became a full-blown PR war — and the winner has already been chosen.
Ballon d’Or trophy (Credits: BBC Sport)
Ballon d’Or 2026 Frontrunners
Lamine Yamal is the overwhelming favourite, backed by Barcelona’s Deco, who branded it a “huge scandal” that Raphinha and Pedri missed the 30-man shortlist but insisted the prize should go to Yamal “because I like football.” The young star himself says he will not “beg for anything” — but argued the award should not merely go to the top goalscorer.
Mbappe and the Ballon d’Or Lobbying Machine
Kylian Mbappe, now the all-time World Cup top goalscorer, has been the most open campaigner of all: “I always think I’m the best but everyone has their own opinion. Of course, this year could be good for me to win the Ballon d’Or — but journalists vote.” Since 2015, the shortlist drawn up by France Football and L’Equipe is voted on by one journalist from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations — and the behind-the-scenes canvassing has had what brand strategist James Kirkham calls “an election feel.”
PSG’s Record 10 Ballon d’Or Nominees
Paris Saint-Germain placed a record 10 players on the shortlist, prompting manager Luis Enrique to confess he is “bored of the Ballon d’Or.” Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia spent their media time talking each other up — “We can cut it in two,” joked Dembele, while Georgia launched a full “Kvara d’Or” campaign for the nation’s favourite son. Whether the prize rewards the individual or the collective, the lobbying machine around football’s biggest night has never been louder.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
