Ousmane Dembele, winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or, has named his top three contenders for the 2026 award. According to Legit.ng, the French forward picked Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane and himself as the leading favourites for the prestigious individual prize. Notably, Dembele left out high-profile stars Lionel Messi and Rodri from his predictions. The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will determine the successor to Dembele as the world's best player.

France Football, organisers of the Ballon d'Or, have officially released the shortlist of nominees for the 2026 edition of the award, publishing the lists on their website on Tuesday. According to the Daily Post, Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele is the current holder of the prize, having beaten Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to win it last year. Details of this year's ceremony, including the venue and date, are expected to follow the announcement of the nominees.

Former Arsenal defensive midfielder Emmanuel Petit has said that Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or award. According to Petit, Kvaratskhelia's performances over the last two years justify him winning the prize. Petit added that the Georgian international belongs on a short, non-exhaustive list of contenders for the prestigious individual football honour, according to the Daily Post report.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has said he would vote for himself to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, the Daily Post reports. Speaking to French newspaper L'Equipe, Mbappe, who is regarded as one of the favourites for the prestigious individual award, responded to a question about his vote by saying he would back himself. The France captain's comments come as speculation builds ahead of the 2026 edition of the prize, which recognises the world's best footballer.

France Football is expected to unveil the shortlist of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or today, and a list of the top five favourites has emerged ahead of the announcement. According to Kalshi, England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is currently leading the race for the prestigious individual prize. The rankings highlight the leading contenders as anticipation builds around the official nominee list for this year's award.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has said he believes this could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d'Or, following another prolific season for both club and country. The French striker, who has yet to claim football's most prestigious individual award despite his consistent goal-scoring record, expressed confidence about his chances in the upcoming edition of the prize, according to Naija News.