The 2026 Ballon d'Or competition remains open, with no clear favorite emerging. French football legend Michel Platini offered his opinion on who has the best chance of winning.
Platini stated that Mbappe stands out most in terms of efficiency: "If we only look at goal-scoring efficiency, I would choose Mbappe. He was the top scorer all season and his performance was impeccable."
However, in his view, Mbappe wasn't the only contender for this year's Ballon d'Or. Platini believed that Rodri's importance to the team was irreplaceable, Lamin Yamal was the most technically gifted player, and Fabian Ruiz had won almost every major honor.
After listing several top candidates, Platini ultimately made a surprising choice – Paris Saint-Germain winger Kvalatschria.
“I’m willing to vote for Kvalatschlia,” Platini said. “I think he helped Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League, so I’m willing to bet on him.”
Platini concluded by pointing out that there are several strong contenders for this year's Ballon d'Or: "There are four or five players who deserve this trophy. Mbappe is the top scorer in all competitions, but some would argue that he hasn't won any titles; other players, despite their numerous accolades, may not be the top scorers. Therefore, the answer is difficult to predict."
