Ballon d'Or 2026: Michel Platini bets on a PSG star

With just weeks to go before the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, predictions are starting to multiply. The prestigious individual award will be presented on October 26 in London, in a particularly unpredictable context. Several players seem capable of winning the prize, making the choice of the future winner especially difficult.

Among the football greats who have spoken out about the race for the trophy, Michel Platini shared his thoughts. A guest on the "Canal Football Club" program on Sunday evening, the former French number 10, three-time Ballon d'Or winner (1983, 1984 and 1985), acknowledged that the emergence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as successors had made the race much more open.

"It's complicated, because for ten years we had a Messi-Ronaldo, Ronaldo-Messi generation. Now it's much more open," explained Platini.

The Frenchman then outlined the profiles of the main candidates based on their respective qualities. For him, Kylian Mbappé remains the most effective player, while Rodri stands out as an essential element in the functioning of a team. Lamine Yamal, for his part, is, in his opinion, the player who brings the most magic to the pitch.

Platini also mentioned Fabian Ruiz among the contenders due to his record and team successes. This list, in his view, demonstrates the difficulty in choosing between the various candidates this year.

But when it came time to name his favorite, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner ultimately chose another Paris Saint-Germain star: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Georgian international, who particularly impressed during the Parisian club's European campaign, seems to have won over the former French playmaker.

"So that makes four. But I would put a small bet on the Paris Saint-Germain player, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia," concluded Michel Platini.

The verdict will be announced on October 26 in London. Until then, the battle of predictions promises to continue among the various contenders for the prestigious trophy.