REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth
There is no greater individual prize in football than the Ballon d'Or. After all, it is the award handed to the best player in the world from the past season.
When those types of debates come to the fore, Lionel Messi's record eight wins, compared to Cristiano Ronaldo's five, is often cited as clear evidence that the Argentine is the greatest player of all time.
Ousmane Dembele was a deserving winner in 2025, having led Paris Saint-Germain to their first-ever Champions League title. In 2026, however, it's perhaps not quite as clear who will lift the award as it has been in past seasons.
Spain's triumph at the 2026 World Cup has helped boost the chances of Lamine Yamal and Rodri, but there are plenty of other names under consideration. Kylian Mbappe also enjoyed a fine summer tournament, but his fellow Frenchman Michel Platini has named another as his Ballon d'Or favourite this year.
Michel Platini Backs PSG Star for Ballon d'Or
Action Images via Reuters
Mbappe was brilliant as France made the World Cup semi-finals, scoring 10 goals in eight games to win the Golden Boot and become the tournament's all-time top goalscorer. However, with Les Bleus not winning the competition, and Real Madrid coming out empty-handed in La Liga and the Champions League, there are some who feel he hasn't quite done enough to win the Ballon d'Or.
Even so, it's a bit of a surprise that Platini – who won the Ballon d'Or three times in a row between 1983 and 1985 – has overlooked his countryman for the award. He instead named a different player who has lit up France over the past 12 months.
That man was Paris Saint-Germain's Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. As quoted by Goal, Platini explained:
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho waves
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho waves
Kvaratskhelia's Special Season
kvaratskhelia psg
Kvaratskhelia was brilliant for PSG last term, scoring 10 goals and providing seven assists in the Champions League as the French club retained the title for the second season running. As a result of his exploits in the tournament, the Georgian was named UEFA Player of the Season.
It was a great campaign as he also walked away with the Ligue 1 trophy, his second since arriving from Napoli in January 2025. In terms of his Ballon d'Or hopes, the biggest obstacle for the 25-year-old will likely be the World Cup.
Georgia did not qualify for the tournament, so he was not given the same opportunity to shine this summer and add to his claim. The likes of Mbappe, Yamal, Rodri, Harry Kane and others all boosted their chances with impressive displays in North America.
Even so, Platini hasn't held that against the PSG star. It will certianly be interesting to see how the voting goes ahead of the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremeny, which will be held on 26 October.