If there was not a World Cup on the menu this summer – with all that this implies of weight for history – the 2026 Ballon d’Or would already have its favorites guaranteed. And perhaps even now its next winner. A fortnight ago, bookmakers were generously quoting Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Lamine Yamal and Kylian MbappĂ©. The last two have since taken a turn for the worse, losing sight of the Champions League.
The first two, on the other hand, can still claim the European holy grail as players of an impressive Bayern certainly beaten this Tuesday at the Parc des Princes by PSG in the semi-final first leg (5-4) – this eight days before the return to Munich. And a Parisian to see his chances of individual consecration jump in the light of the latest lessons from the C1.
This year again, the outgoing Ballon d’Or Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© will undoubtedly be there. Especially if the French team is there across the Atlantic in two months. In the club season alone, the Reds and Blues will-o-the-wisp confirms his status as an impact player. Less focused on personal statistics from now on than an essential architect of a fulfilled collective.
The very closed circle of back to back
Far from his 35 goals scored last season, the former Barcelona player is at 18 so far but his rise in power in major European matches speaks in his favor. Decisive against Chelsea and Liverpool in the previous rounds, the person concerned was even more so against Bayern, a double scorer involved in four of his team’s five achievements.
The first defender of his team, shaped by Luis Enrique whose demands sometimes sparked, Ousmane DembĂ©lĂ© is today the strong link in a squad that is nonetheless riddled with talent. The Ballon d’Or dynamic observed in the past with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could well work in his favor at the end of the year. Which would allow him to join – in addition to the two stars mentioned – the monuments Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten and Michel Platini, other legends awarded the famous golden sphere two years in a row.
