Al‑Khelaïfi bets on Mbappé and Yamal for the Ballon d’Or

As the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony approaches rapidly, the football world still has to wait a few weeks before learning the winner. In Denmark, on Wednesday, during the EFC congress, the president of Paris Saint‑Germain, Nasser Al‑Khelaïfi, was asked about the contenders for the prestigious award.

Al‑Khelaïfi’s views on the young stars

Al‑Khelaïfi first joked: “You’re going to put me in a difficult position vis‑à‑vis the other clubs,” before praising the qualities of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, whom he described as exceptional players. “I have great respect for all players like Kylian or Yamal. They are exceptional players. I know Kylian very well, of course. He is an incredible, talented player, and certainly one of the best in the world,” he said.

The Qatari leader then highlighted several members of his own squad as serious candidates. According to him, Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Fabian Ruiz all deserve the award. “I would inevitably choose one of my own players. We have three: Dembélé, Kvara and also Fabian Ruiz. Fabian Ruiz is the only one to have won all the trophies. So I think Dembélé, Kvara and Fabian Ruiz deserve it, because they have won everything. They have been fantastic,” he affirmed.

These remarks underline Paris Saint‑Germain’s influence in the Ballon d’Or debates, even though observers continue to publish their predictions. The president also reminded that the club is among the best in the world, both in terms of its players and its ambition.