# 2026 Ballon d'Or candidate discussions > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/2026-ballon-dor-candidate-discussions > Updated: 2026-09-08T15:23:03.000Z. Sources: 21. Developments: 4. Discussions regarding the 2026 Ballon d'Or have emerged from various football figures. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha expressed a desire for a PSG player to win the award, specifically mentioning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, and Fabian Ruiz, while acknowledging competition from Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé. José Mourinho has expanded on the debate regarding award criteria, arguing that the prize should not be decided solely by team achievements, such as winning the Champions League or the World Cup. He suggested that if trophies were the only metric, the award should go to coaches like Luis Enrique or De la Fuente. Mourinho believes the prize should instead recognize individual players who leave an “indelible mark on the sport,” comparable to legends such as Maradona, Zidane, and Messi. As the announcement of the 30 nominees approaches on September 8, Kylian Mbappé has sparked further debate by expressing confidence in his ability to win. During a press conference, the Real Madrid forward stated, “I would vote for myself to win the Ballon d'Or.” This stance has drawn sharp criticism from former French international Samuel Umtiti, who labeled the remarks arrogant and suggested Mbappé should focus on pitch performance. Umtiti also argued the award has lost meaning by prioritizing individual statistics over team achievements. In contrast, former Morocco national team coach Walid Regragui defended Mbappé, praising his frankness and self-confidence. Meanwhile, PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has also expressed his own ambitions for the trophy, noting the honor of being considered among the world's best. ## Claims - Winning the Champions League or the World Cup should not be the sole criteria for winning the Ballon d'Or. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Mourinho suggested Kylian Mbappé is a candidate for the Ballon d'Or based on individual performance. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Kylian Mbappé became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. (corroborated by 6 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-08: Kylian Mbappé sparks debate over Ballon d'Or ambitions Kylian Mbappé's recent comments expressing confidence in winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or have ignited debate among players and pundits regarding individual glory versus team success. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kylian-mbapp-sparks-ballon-dor-debate ### 2026-09-05: PSG players emerge as strong contenders for 2026 Ballon d'Or Several Paris Saint-Germain players, including Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, are prominent contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or ahead of the September 8 nominee announcement. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/psg-players-emerge-as-strong-contenders-for-2026-ballon-dor ### 2026-08-29: José Mourinho criticizes Ballon d'Or criteria José Mourinho argues the Ballon d'Or should reward individual impact rather than just team trophies like the Champions League, implying Kylian Mbappé is a top candidate. 10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jos-mourinho-discusses-ballon-dor-candidates ### 2026-08-13: Vitinha advocates for PSG player to win 2026 Ballon d'Or PSG midfielder Vitinha has stated he will vote for a Paris Saint-Germain player to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, citing Dembélé, Ruiz, or Kvaratskhelia as top candidates. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/vitinha-advocates-for-psg-player-to-win-2026-ballon-dor --- Cite as: 2026 Ballon d'Or candidate discussions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/2026-ballon-dor-candidate-discussions