Ousmane Dembélé predicts Ibrahim Maza will win future Ballon d'Or

During the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony in London, French star Ousmane Dembélé expressed strong support for Bayer Leverkusen player Ibrahim Maza. Following a meeting at the event, Dembélé commented on Maza’s Instagram post with the message, “The next Ballon d'Or, if God wills it.”

Maza, a 19-year-old Algerian international, finished ninth in the Kopa Trophy rankings for the best young player. Dembélé, who placed seventh in the overall 2026 Ballon d'Or standings, previously won the award in 2025.

The ceremony also saw Lamine Yamal win his third consecutive Ballon d'Or. Maza’s rising profile follows his performances in the Bundesliga and with the Algerian national team.