Willian Pacho nominated for 2026 Ballon d'Or

Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho has been named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain, Pacho's nomination follows a highly successful season in which he secured two Champions League titles, the UEFA Super Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the French Super Cup. He was also named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

Pacho is only the second Ecuadorian footballer to receive this distinction, following Édison Méndez in 2006. He is one of six defenders included in the shortlist alongside players such as Marquinhos and Pau Cubarsí.

Reflecting on his career path, Pacho credited coach Renato Paiva for providing essential emotional and professional support during a difficult period in 2021. At that time, a transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach collapsed due to foreign player quota issues, a setback that occurred after Pacho had already made significant personal and financial commitments related to the move. Paiva, who coached Pacho at Independiente del Valle, currently manages Santos in Mexico.