Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé lead French Ballon d’Or race

Following the announcement of the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, French players Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé have emerged as key candidates for the prestigious individual football award.

Kylian Mbappé, playing for Real Madrid, expressed confidence in his candidacy, stating that based on his arguments and competition, a win “would not be stolen.” In contrast, Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain maintained a more neutral stance, noting that he would not vote for himself and suggesting the award might remain with a PSG player.

When asked to choose between the two compatriots, Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), declined to take a side. Adopting a diplomatic approach, Diallo responded to the question of whether Dembélé or Mbappé should win by simply stating, “Joker.”