Several football icons have revealed their favourites to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award.
Among those sharing their predictions were Barcelona legend Xavi and Real Madrid great Roberto Carlos, who backed different candidates for the coveted prize.
Xavi tipped Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal as his choice for the award, while Roberto Carlos threw his support behind Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé.
The predictions were made in UEFA Champions League’s “Legends Edition” feature on social media ahead of the final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembélé is the current Ballon d’Or holder, having claimed the award in 2025, but the race for this year’s honour is already generating significant debate among football’s biggest names.
