Ballon d’Or 2026: Owen Hargreaves names top two favourites to win award
Owen Hargreaves, a former midfielder for Manchester United and Manchester City, has identified his two frontrunners for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
The announcement for this year’s prestigious award is scheduled for October in London. Last year, Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain took home the accolade.
Hargreaves named Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Barcelona midfielder Rodri as the leading candidates for the upcoming award.
“There are a few contenders, but you can’t say which one clearly stands out,” Hargreaves said, according to a report from Bavarian Football Works.
He praised Kane for his remarkable performance with Bayern Munich, noting his impressive goal-scoring record and a strong showing in the recent World Cup, where England finished third. “I mean, who else could it be?” he added.
Hargreaves also commended Rodri for his outstanding contributions, citing his success with Manchester City, where he won both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Additionally, Rodri played a key role in Spain’s victory at the World Cup, where many considered him one of the tournament’s best players. “If I were to vote, it would come down to these two players,” Hargreaves stated.
