Suspense builds in London over who will succeed Ousmane Dembélé
Under the gray neon lights of London, the streets hum with a palpable anticipation: in three weeks, the football world will discover who will succeed Ousmane Dembélé as the new Ballon d’Or 2026 laureate, with the official ceremony scheduled for October 26.
The London countdown
On the upcoming October 26, the prestigious trophy will be presented in London, at the heart of an evening that will bring together the biggest names in football. The three‑week countdown is already fueling media and fan speculation.
Thirty players remain in contention for the highest individual honour. Among them, French striker Kylian Mbappé describes himself as “the chosen one” of this edition, convinced that his play puts him at the top of the list. His ambition mixes with that of other contenders, but he stands out for his overt confidence.
The Ballon d’Or remains football’s most prestigious individual award, each year crowning the player deemed the best in the world. This edition therefore generates a particular excitement, especially as the successor to Ousmane Dembélé will be named.
The favourites according to the legends
Former German international Thomas Müller published, in his Monday newsletter, his own selection. He puts Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise at the top of his list, stating that their individual performances impressed him the most.
"For me, there are two candidates whose individual performances impressed me the most: Michael Olise and his brilliant teammate at the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé," he writes. "These two players combine spectacular play with a real ability to score goals. In the smallest details, they manage to be effective thanks to their finesse and power, while giving the impression that all of this is done without any effort. To me, that is exactly what it takes to be the best footballer in the world. You simply need that touch of magic," details the Vancouver player.
The previous Thursday, Thierry Henry also voiced his opinion, placing Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise among his favourites. "I think Kylian can have it. Michael Olise—do we talk about him or not? He's won everything. Best assister at the World Cup, in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League. What Kylian has for the scorers, he has for the providers," he said on RMC.
The final verdict will fall in twenty‑one days, on October 26, when the Ballon d’Or 2026 will be officially awarded in London. Until then, the debates will continue to circulate on TV studios and social media.