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| Ballon d’Or |
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele has suggested a light-hearted solution to the Ballon d’Or race involving himself and teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Both players feature on the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 award. Dembele, the reigning winner, and the Georgian winger played key roles as PSG claimed the Ligue 1 title and the Champions League during the 2025-26 season under review.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Dembele heaped praise on Kvaratskhelia, calling him a “dazzling and incredible” player who has proven himself at the highest level. When asked about the possibility of one of them missing out, the French forward offered a humorous compromise:
“The Ballon d’Or? We’ll just cut it in half.”
The comment reflects the strong mutual respect between the two forwards, who have publicly backed each other in recent interviews.
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Strong Competition for the Golden Ball
Dembele and Kvaratskhelia face stiff competition. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, still only 19, is widely regarded as one of the leading contenders. Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez, now in charge of the Netherlands, has given the teenager strong backing.
Speaking to SPORT at the KNVB headquarters in Zeist ahead of his managerial debut against Germany, Xavi said:
“Lamine is special, he’s different, he’s 19, and he will undoubtedly win it [the Ballon d’Or], but this would be a good year for him to win it now.”
Other big names on the shortlist include Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.
Ceremony Details
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on 26 October 2026 at the London Palladium — the first time the event is held outside France in its history. The award covers performances from the 2025-26 season (August 2025 to July 2026).
While individual awards generate huge attention, Dembele has repeatedly emphasised that collective success with PSG remains his priority. The French club’s dominance in both domestic and European competition has put several of their players in the conversation this year.
Football fans now wait to see whether Dembele can defend his title, whether Kvaratskhelia claims the prize, or whether a young star like Yamal becomes one of the youngest winners in Ballon d’Or history.
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