Noise around the Ballon d'Or threatens Mbappé and Yamal's chances

The debate around the 2026 Ballon d’Or intensifies as Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal proclaim “I deserve the Ballon d’Or”, while the 100 journalists of the electoral college remain impermeable to media campaigns and pressures from their clubs and close ones. Never before has the race for the most prestigious individual trophy seemed so noisy.

A 2026 vote with multiple contenders

The vote, unprecedented in its indecision, brings together Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé, all convinced of their chances. None of them hide their ambition, and public statements multiply.

Backed by the aggressive communication from their clubs and close ones, the contenders multiply media appearances where humility shines by its absence, dangerously flirting with the third official criterion of the trophy: class and fair‑play.

The journalistic jury remains impermeable

Composed of one hundred specialist journalists representing the top hundred nations in the FIFA ranking, the college expresses growing exasperation at the “ramdam” orchestrated. Yazid Ouahib, juror for Algeria since 2007, declares that these campaigns are distractions that do not influence his vote.

Anders Bengtsson, the Swedish representative, states that “These campaigns have absolutely no influence on me”. He adds that only statistics or solid arguments could possibly tip the balance, provided they have thought before voting.

Pascal Ferré, former editor‑in‑chief of France Football, reminds that jurors are not “three‑week rabbits”. According to him, a Ballon d’Or can get lost on the communication field if the player occupies space clumsily, risking to annoy the voters.

At the moment of the final choice, the serenity of ballots cast in conscience could well sweep away months of promotional noise, letting sporting merit prevail over media clamor.