Ballon d’Or 2026: ‘No doubt’ – French pundit snubs Mbappe, names player to win

French football analyst Walid Acherchour has expressed his belief that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is poised to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, bypassing France’s captain Kylian Mbappe in the conversation.

Acherchour cited Yamal’s impressive performances for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team as key factors in his prediction. “For me, Lamine Yamal is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. There’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour stated, as reported by Actu Foot.

Despite Yamal’s recognition, Acherchour acknowledged concerns regarding his performance at the World Cup, where he was deemed only average. However, he noted that Yamal’s achievements, including his contributions to Spain’s World Cup victory and Barcelona’s La Liga title, remain significant.