A host of football legends have shared their predictions for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, offering diverse choices ahead of the prestigious award ceremony. The opinions were gathered in a special segment by the UEFA Champions League official social media account, featuring figures like Xavi, Roberto Carlos, and William Gallas.
Barcelona icon Xavi expressed his support for Lamine Yamal, the young winger at Barcelona, while Real Madrid great Roberto Carlos backed Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal defender Ashley Cole, along with ex-Liverpool goalkeeper David James, both selected Harry Kane from Bayern Munich as their favorite. Meanwhile, Theo Walcott, who previously played for Arsenal, put his faith in England midfielder Declan Rice.
Julio Cesar, the former Brazil goalkeeper, picked Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as his candidate. Ivan Rakitic, who spent time at Barcelona, chose Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, and William Gallas tipped Ousmane Dembele to secure back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins after his 2025 triumph.
The current holder, Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain, won the award in 2025, making his repeat victory a hot topic. This year’s Ballon d’Or race looks wide open with a variety of stars being backed by influential voices from the football world.