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Ballon d’Or 2026: Xavi, Roberto Carlos, Gallas, others name player to win award
Several football icons have named the player of their choice to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
Barcelona legend Xavi, Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos and some other football legends have named their picks to win the top individual award.
Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is the player who won the last Ballon d’Or in 2025.
However, in the latest Legends edition on who will win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, posted on the UEFA Champions League official X account before the Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, several football legends were asked about their choices for the award.
Xavi backed Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to win the award, while Carlos picked Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
Former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole and former Liverpool goalkeeper David James went for Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.
Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott backed England midfielder Declan Rice instead, while former Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar backed Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic went with Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, while former Arsenal defender William Gallas backed Dembele to win back-to-back.
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