2026 Ballon d’Or: Former Ballon d’Or Chief Ferré Names Player Likely To Win Award

Former Ballon d’Or chief Pascal Ferré has suggested that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has a stronger case than Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé for the 2026 award.

Ferré believes winning major trophies should be an important factor, noting that Yamal won both LaLiga and the World Cup during the period under review.

Mbappé, meanwhile, finished as the top scorer in LaLiga, the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup but did not win a major club trophy.

Ferré said: “Honestly, I think Kylian’s campaign is massive compared to Lamine’s. For me, you don’t ask for a Ballon d’Or. You earn it.”

However, he admitted that Mbappé remains a great player but said he would not vote for him this year.

“Honestly, I don’t think Kylian’s campaign has achieved very much. But we’ll see on October 26. Mbappé is a great player, but this year I would not vote for him,” Ferré said.

He also pointed to the importance of team success, saying: “Among the 30 nominees, he was one of the few who didn’t win a trophy with his club. It seems strange to me to be the best player in the world without winning anything during the season.”

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Ferré concluded: “Football remains a team sport. If you don’t manage to win, it means you weren’t strong enough. That’s my view.” The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced on October 26.