Luis Enrique names his favorite for the 2026 Ballon d'Or

The 2026 World Cup final has completely reignited the race for the Ballon d'Or. Spain's triumph has shaken up the hierarchy and brought fresh debate over who stands as the leading contender for football's most prestigious individual prize.

Among the biggest winners of the tournament is Fabián Ruiz. The Spanish midfielder has dramatically strengthened his Ballon d'Or 2026 case after a truly exceptional season.

The Spanish world champion didn't stop at lifting the World Cup trophy. With Paris Saint-Germain, he also completed a historic campaign, sweeping six major titles: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, Champions League, Trophée des Champions, UEFA Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup.

Enrique already sees Fabián Ruiz winning the Ballon d'Or

Upon returning to PSG's Poissy Campus, Fabián Ruiz was greeted with a warm welcome from his teammates, who formed a guard of honor to celebrate his triumph with the Spanish national team.

During the training session, Luis Enrique didn't miss the chance to tease his player in front of the squad. Smiling, the Parisian coach declared:

“Fabián won the World Cup, two years ago the Euros, two consecutive Champions Leagues, the Nations League… Ballon d'Or!”

Though delivered in a lighthearted tone, this statement perfectly captures Luis Enrique's admiration for his midfielder. It also underscores the phenomenal campaign Fabián Ruiz has enjoyed—now widely regarded as one of the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Worth noting, the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, in London. For the first time in its history, the prestigious award will leave Paris to celebrate its 70th anniversary in the British capital.

Ballon d'Or 2026: The top 10 favorites after the World Cup

Mohamed Rek |

Editorfr, ar, en

Mohamed Rek- sports content writer with over 10 years of experience creating football content in Arabic and French for platforms such as Foot Africa and Starafrica, combining accuracy, creativity, and audience engagement.

Related teams and leagues

Spain

Paris Saint-Germain