Ballon d’Or 2026 : le juré marocain révèle avoir subi des pressions pour écarter Achraf Hakimi
The 2026 Ballon d'Or vote continues to generate controversy, despite Harry Kane's victory. Mustapha Badri, Morocco's representative among the voters, claims he was approached just hours before the vote to change his choice and not place Achraf Hakimi at the top of his ranking.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or continues to generate controversy. Several days after the crowning of English striker Harry Kane, new revelations are fueling the debate surrounding this individual award. Following the controversy linked to suspicious betting on the Polymarket platform, which prompted France Football to announce legal action, the voting process itself is now the focus of attention.
The publication of the various jurors' choices has sparked numerous reactions on social media. In this context, Mustapha Badri, director general of the Moroccan daily newspaper Al Mountakhab and a member of the jury, decided to reveal the behind-the-scenes details of his participation in the vote.
The journalist had placed Achraf Hakimi in first position, ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. A choice he fully stands by, even though he acknowledges that his attachment to Morocco also played a role in his decision.
“My Moroccan roots naturally played a role in my choice. But that absolutely does not mean that my vote lacks sporting arguments,” he explained in an interview with Africafoot.
To justify his choice, Mustapha Badri highlighted the performances of the Paris Saint-Germain defender, his influence on the pitch, and his unwavering commitment to the Moroccan national team. In his view, Hakimi simply deserved to win the trophy.
"I was contacted to vote against Hakimi."
But the most striking revelation concerns the pressure he claims to have been subjected to before submitting his ballot. According to his statements, some people tried to get him to change his ranking in favor of another candidate.
"In the final hours before the official vote, some people contacted me to try to influence me and convince me to vote against Achraf Hakimi in favor of another player, whose name I prefer not to mention," he confided.
The Moroccan juror, however, maintains that he remained true to his convictions and did not give in to these requests. He believes that this experience highlights the potential for influence peddling surrounding such a prestigious award as the Ballon d'Or.
These accusations, which raise questions about what went on behind the scenes during the vote, risk reigniting discussions around the 2026 edition and the transparency of the process for selecting the best player of the year.
Commentaires (7)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.
Se connecter
Commentez avec votre profil, votre photo, et soyez averti des réponses.