Ousmane Dembele picked PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia over France teammate Kylian Mbappe for the Ballon d'Or.
With the winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or set to be announced on October 26th, the debate is raging. Some players, like Kylian Mbappé, are campaigning for themselves. Others, however, are taking a more modest approach. PSG star Ousmane Dembélé, for example, has revealed a name he believes deserves to win the award, and it's not the captain of the French national team
We're about to learn the identity of the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner. For now, the likely candidates are campaigning. Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Harry Kane believe they have a chance of winning the prize this year. Mbappé, for his part, thinks he deserves to be chosen thanks to his individual performances with Real Madrid and the French national team. Dembélé, meanwhile, prefers to play it modest. The PSG star is therefore suggesting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner.
Ousmane Dembele: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Deserves to Win the Ballon d'Or
“Kvaratskhelia for the Ballon d’Or? I would be very happy; he deserves it too. The season he had was exceptional. For me, he’s the best player in the world. He deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. The coach reminds us every day that we have to put the team first and think about ourselves. That’s normal. Personally, I don’t like to put myself forward. It’s difficult to put yourself forward. The most important thing is the joyful moments we share with our teammates on the pitch, ” Ousmane Dembélé explained to Ligue 1+ before the trip to Marseille.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Sees Ousmane Dembele Winning the Ballon d'Or
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was quick to respond. "I would vote for Ousmane. For his playing style and the way he helps the team. His ability to lead the team is very important for us. He's incredible. We're very happy to have him on the team," declared the Georgian international. What's certain is that both PSG players want to see the Ballon d'Or winner stay with the French capital club this year.
Is There Tension Between Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe Over the Ballon D’Or?
While a certain tension seems to be developing between Dembélé and Mbappé over the Ballon d'Or, the 29-year-old striker's choice to prioritize Khvicha Kvaratskhelia over his national teammate is unlikely to sit well with the Bondy native. Zinedine Zidane will very likely have to deal with this situation during the next French national team gathering in a few days.
