Ballon d'Or 2026: PSG defends its communication strategy

In the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, Paris Saint-Germain did not want to choose between Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in its campaign. And the club had its reasons.

At major European clubs, each edition of the Ballon d'Or increasingly resembles a battle for influence. Communications departments choose their preferred candidate to lobby on their behalf. PSG chose to distance itself from this aggressive approach this year.

The two-time European champions' neutrality raised eyebrows. On L'Équipe du soir, Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, criticized this approach. "For example, I think PSG's communication may not have been very clear in trying to promote three players, then two. And actually, for me, but once again, it's not my job, I don't work in communications, I think they really should have backed one player and, for me, they should have backed the holder of the Ballon d'Or, that is to say Ousmane Dembélé," he explained.

PSG defends its approach

On Monday evening, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finished sixth, ahead of Ousmane Dembélé (seventh). Internally, PSG has no regrets, as the newspaper Le Parisien explains. Pushing Dembélé at Kvara's expense risked alienating the Georgian. Faced with a very tight 2026 vote, Paris preferred to protect its dressing room rather than undermine its collective for a few votes.

Read also: Ballon d'Or 2026: Medhi Benatia does not understand Messi's ranking

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.

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