Ballon d’Or 2026: Ilya Zabarnyi picks the winner

Zabarnyi names his winner

Ballon d'Or Today at 13:08

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Ballon d’Or 2026: Ilya Zabarnyi picks the winner

There is now just over a week to go before the big winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or is announced. On Saturday evening, Ilya Zabarnyi chose his preferred candidate.

There are now just nine days to go before the 70th ceremony for the 2026 Ballon d’Or by France Football. The reigning champion, Ousmane Dembélé, is still among this year’s 30 nominees. Indeed, the French winger could win the award for a second consecutive time.

Ilya Zabarnyi backs Dembélé to retain the award

That is what his Paris Saint-Germain teammate, Ilya Zabarnyi, hopes for: Ousmane Dembélé to win the Ballon d’Or again. He said so himself in the mixed zone after the Ligue 1 victory over Strasbourg (1-3).

The former Bournemouth player, who scored at the Stade de la Meinau after being set up by the France striker, said: “Definitely, yes. There are a lot of people who deserve this award. Ousmane is one of them. So I would really like to see one of our players win the Ballon d’Or, because they deserve it.”

🏆🇫🇷 ILYA ZABARNYI MILITE POUR UN DEUXIÈME BALLON D'OR D'OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ ! À neuf jours de la cérémonie, le défenseur ukrainien du PSG a affiché son soutien à son coéquipier, tenant du titre ! 🔴🔵 🗣️ « On a beaucoup de gens qui méritent ce trophée. Ousmane en fait partie. Donc j'aimerais beaucoup voir l'un de nos joueurs gagner le Ballon d'Or, parce qu'ils le méritent. » Un bel hommage après la victoire face à Strasbourg (3-1), où Dembélé lui a délivré une passe décisive ! 🤝 Dembélé mérite-t-il un deuxième Ballon d'Or consécutif ? 👀
— Foot Mercato (@footmercato) October 18, 2026

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.