Dbarta24.com — Debate over the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner has reached a fever pitch following the conclusion of voting, as football icons worldwide endorse their top candidates ahead of the grand ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.
The 30-man shortlist features high-profile nominees including last year’s recipient Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Rodri, and Vinícius Júnior. However, football legends and former players have centered their backing around four main contenders: Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, and eight-time winner Lionel Messi.
Mbappé Gains Heavy French and International Backing
Former France and Arsenal icon Thierry Henry publicly selected Kylian Mbappé as his top candidate, citing the forward’s prolific run as the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Henry named Michael Olise as his runner-up, noting that injury setbacks hampered Spanish star Lamine Yamal from maintaining peak momentum.
Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos, former France defender Samuel Umtiti, and 2001 Ballon d’Or winner Michael Owen also rallied behind Mbappé. Owen highlighted Mbappé’s historic international campaign, where the French captain scored 10 goals during the 2026 World Cup to become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history.
Yamal and Kane Build Strong Cases
Despite injuries affecting his consistency, Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal received strong endorsements from Zlatan Ibrahimović and Samuel Eto’o. Following a second-place finish in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting, Yamal registered 25 goals and 20 assists across 57 appearances for club and country in the 2025–26 season.
Meanwhile, Harry Kane’s remarkable 73-goal campaign for Bayern Munich and England sparked significant advocacy from English and German veterans:
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Rio Ferdinand: Declared Kane the strongest contender following his European Golden Shoe victory and leading role in England’s World Cup run.
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Lothar Matthäus & Jürgen Klinsmann: Credited Kane’s pivotal role in Bayern’s domestic double, his clinical scoring record, and his leadership in taking England to the World Cup semi-finals.
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Hugo Lloris: Highlighted that Kane’s 73 goals in a single season is second only to Lionel Messi’s historic 82-goal milestone in European club football history.
At 39, Messi Remains in the Golden Ball Conversation
Despite his age, 39-year-old Lionel Messi remains a major contender for his ninth Ballon d’Or trophy. Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham advocated for the Argentine captain after Messi propelled Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final, finishing the tournament with eight goals and four assists. Former Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech similarly acknowledged Messi’s strong candidacy based on his international influence.
While endorsements from former players highlight the diverse achievements across the 2025–26 season, the ultimate winner will be determined by votes cast by 100 international journalists. The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be officially crowned on October 26 at the awards ceremony in London.