France midfielder Tchouameni don reveal im leading candidates for di 2026 Ballon d'Or, and e back three of im international team-mates for di prestigious honour. Tchouameni believe say di most coveted individual prize for world football suppose remain inside France following one memorable campaign.
For interview with France24, Tchouameni open up on im personal favourites to claim di ultimate honour. He specifically highlight di remarkable achievements of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, insisting say dia standout performances throughout di 2025-26 season don earn dem place at di very top of di sport.
Di race for di 2026 Ballon d’Or don generate immense debate, but Tchouameni clear well well when dem press am on im preferred winner. Di midfielder no hesitate to show im national pride, and e make passionate case for im compatriots to get recognition for dia exceptional exploits on di biggest stages.
“The Ballon d’Or must go to a French player, obviously,” Tchouameni talk during di interview. “Kylian had an exceptional season, Ousmane too by winning the Champions League with PSG, and of course Michael Olise.”
Di three candidates na players wey Tchouameni know incredibly well. He don witness dia exceptional abilities firsthand, and e note exactly how dia world-class performances leave significant mark on di 2025-26 season.
Dembele remarkable achievement in helping PSG secure di Champions League clearly resonate with di midfielder. Im triumph on Europe biggest stage provide massive boost to im personal credentials. Meanwhile, both Mbappe and Olise enjoy outstanding individual campaigns. Dia consistent brilliance on di pitch firmly justify dia inclusion for Tchouameni exclusive list of frontrunners for di award.
Di 70th edition of di Ballon d’Or ceremony go take place for London. Di footballing world go gather for di English capital on October 26 for di glittering gala. E remain to be seen exactly who go walk away with di famous trophy. However, Tchouameni go undoubtedly dey hope say one of im three favoured compatriots claims di ultimate honour on di night.
Later dis month, for di English capital of London, di ceremony for di 25/26 Ballon d’Or go take place, with Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe among di list of nominees hoping to win di award. He no be di only Los Blancos player wey dem nominate for di award, as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Marc Cucurella also dey among di 30 nominees, albeit Cucurella for im body of work with Chelsea and di Spain national team. But e feel like Mbappe na di one Real Madrid player with genuine, tangible chance of being di winner.
Plenty players don talk dia own in recent weeks, including Mbappe himself, as well as fellow nominee Lamine Yamal. Then, plenty other players don back dia team mates to win di much coveted award. One more player to do so na Real Madrid central defender Raul Asencio, who currently dey sidelined after he undergo surgery.
For recent interview with Diario AS, dem ask am about Mbappe potentially winning di award. He respond: “It would be fair. Kylian is the best player from all (of) the nominees. He’s the top scorer in every competition. It’s an individual award.”
Fair play. You no fit argue too much with wetin he talk. Whatever your thoughts on Mbappe, he was di top scorer in La Liga, di UEFA Champions League and di FIFA World Cup. And e mean say na about di best individual, not di player wey benefit most from collective success.
However, one of di official Ballon d’Or criteria na team achievement too, so e go feel surprising if a player without a single team trophy win di award. But, as always for football, you never know. And there no be leak suggesting another player go definitely win di award at dis current moment.
As e stand, Mbappe na di current third favourite with di bookmakers to win di award, behind di aforementioned Yamal, who be di favourite, and Harry Kane of Bayern Munich and di England national team. Di 27-year old currently dey priced at odds of 12/1 to win di award. Bellingham na 22/1, Vinicius na 80/1, and Cucurella na 100/1.
Make we see wetin go happen. Di winner go officially confirmed on Monday, di 26th of October, one day after di first Clasico of di season for Barcelona.
