Ballon d’Or 2026: live ammunition shots between Mbappé and Dembélé
A few weeks before the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, the media battle is already raging between the main contenders. While Kylian Mbappé openly embraces his ambitions, Ousmane Dembélé believes that the trophy should once again remain in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player.
The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or promises to be particularly competitive. Among the contenders, Kylian Mbappé has openly expressed his desire to win the prestigious award. The captain of Les Bleus believes that his year, marked by his performances with the national team and at Real Madrid, could allow him to contend for the title.
An ambition that is not unanimous. Interviewed by France Football, Ousmane Dembélé, the defending champion, was much more assertive about the outcome of the vote. The Parisian even sees the trophy staying in the French capital. « I don’t think this trophy is undecided. I think it will remain in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player. My top 3? A mix: “Kvara,” Harry Kane, who had a very, very good season, and I think Kylian Mbappé,» said the French international.
Dembélé, however, refuses to place himself among the favorites. This stance contrasts with that of Mbappé, while highlighting the depth of the Parisian squad. He notably mentions Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, Fabian Ruiz, and Willian Pacho among the players likely to contend for the trophy. The 2025 winner’s response is therefore clear: for him, the next Ballon d’Or should once again reward a PSG player. It now remains to be seen whether the journalists responsible for the vote will agree with him.
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