Ivan Rakitic shares 2026 Ballon d'Or predictions

Former Barcelona and Sevilla midfielder Ivan Rakitic has shared his predictions regarding the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Speaking on the Spanish program ‘El Partidazo de COPE’, Rakitic noted the absence of a singular dominant figure similar to the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Rakitic stated that while many players perform well in their domestic leagues, they often struggle to maintain that impact during the World Cup, making it difficult to identify a clear favorite. He expressed a strong preference for Spanish players to win the award, suggesting that several Spanish candidates are equally viable.

When asked to name his personal podium, Rakitic selected Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal, and Rodri.