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2026 Ballon d'Or candidate discussions

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2026-09-09 14:45 UTC → 2026-09-10 13:07 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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, several PSG players are positioned as strong contenders. The anticipated list includes Ousmane Dembélé, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Désiré Doué, and Vitinha. Fabian Ruiz is noted as a significant candidate due to a successful season in terms of titles won. Analysts Jérôme Rothen and Emmanuel Petit have expressed strong support for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, citing his talent and contributions, including 10 goals and 6 assists in 16 Champions League matches. Following the nomination period, Kylian Mbappé has sparked further debate by expressing confidence in his ability to ~~win the award. Some analysts suggest these comments may be part of~~ win. During a ~~strategic campaign supported by~~ press conference, the Real Madrid ~~to reclaim the trophy~~ forward stated, “I would vote for myself to win the Ballon d'Or.” This stance has drawn sharp criticism from former French ~~striker. Former Barcelona player~~ international Samuel ~~Umtiti has criticized Mbappé’s stance, suggesting he~~ Umtiti, who labeled the remarks arrogant and suggested Mbappé should focus on pitch ~~performance rather than the prize, while~~ performance. Umtiti also ~~arguing~~ 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.

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