The 2026 Ballon d’Or debate is intensifying as leading footballers, World Cup ambitions and questions about individual performance and promotional campaigns shape the race.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or race has intensified as leading footballers, clubs and managers debate whether individual brilliance, team achievements, international success or promotional campaigns will determine the winner of football’s most prestigious individual award.
The discussion gained momentum after Ousmane Dembélé won the award last September at the historic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup adding another dimension to the competition, attention has increasingly turned to players’ performances for their clubs and national teams.
For several contenders, success on the international stage could strengthen their claims. However, the debate extends beyond trophies and statistics, raising questions about how individual contributions should be evaluated in a team sport.
Goals, assists and dribbling ability remain important measures of performance, but assessing a player’s overall influence on a team can be more complicated. This has fuelled differing opinions about which qualities should carry the greatest weight in the final decision.
Barcelona sporting director Deco has criticised the exclusion of Raphinha and Pedri from the 30-player shortlist, describing their omissions as a major controversy. He has nevertheless backed young Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal as a leading contender, saying his support reflects his appreciation of football rather than simply his connection to the club.
Yamal, who has previously expressed his ambition to win multiple Ballon d’Or awards, has said he will not beg for recognition. The Spanish international has also argued that the award should not be decided solely by the number of goals a player scores.
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique, meanwhile, has admitted that he is tired of the constant discussion surrounding the award. PSG has 10 players on the shortlist, underlining the French club’s strong representation among the leading candidates.
Dembélé and teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have also exchanged praise. Dembélé described the Georgian winger’s season as exceptional, while Kvaratskhelia openly supported Dembélé’s bid for the award. Fans in Georgia have also celebrated the possibility of seeing their national star receive global recognition.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has made clear that he believes he deserves consideration. The French international, known for his World Cup scoring record, has acknowledged that journalists ultimately determine the winner.
The voting process involves one journalist from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. Their votes decide the winner from a shortlist selected by France Football and L’Équipe, making international media opinion central to the outcome.
The growing emphasis on promotion has prompted criticism from football figures. Bayern Munich board member Max Eberl has argued that the greatest players should not need extensive campaigns to demonstrate their worth. Former Ballon d’Or winner Jean-Pierre Papin has similarly expressed concern that excessive self-promotion can overshadow performances on the pitch.
Mbappé has cited Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as examples of extraordinary consistency. Between 2008 and 2023, the two players collectively won 13 Ballon d’Or awards, establishing a formidable benchmark for future generations.
Former AC Milan executive Ariedo Braida has also observed that football supporters increasingly follow individual superstars rather than remaining exclusively loyal to clubs. Wider access to live football and Champions League coverage has made elite players more visible worldwide, while changing how fans experience major matches.
As the debate continues, the 2026 Ballon d’Or race highlights a broader question in modern football: whether the award should primarily recognise individual performance, collective success, international achievements or the ability to build public support.
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