Messi first and no place for African stars.. Patrick Mboma reveals his shocking Ballon d'Or picks

Cameroon football legend Patrick Mboma has named Lionel Messi as his preferred winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or leaving all African national team players outside his personal top five despite the nominations of Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mané.

The former Paris Saint Germain striker and 2000 African Footballer of the Year revealed his selections in an exclusive interview published by Africafoot on Wednesday 21 October.

Mboma who helped Cameroon win the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002, placed Messi ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal.

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia completed his ranking.

The selections have added another perspective to the Ballon d'Or debate, particularly because no player representing an African national team appears among Mboma's five choices.

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Why Patrick Mboma believes Lionel Messi deserves the Ballon d'Or

Speaking to Africafoot, Mboma explained why he believes Messi deserves to win the prestigious individual award for a record-extending ninth time.

"For me, Lionel Messi is the greatest footballer in history" Mboma said.

The former Cameroon international highlighted the Argentine's performances for Inter Miami and, more importantly, his influence during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Although Messi did not lead Argentina to another world title, Mboma believes the 39 year old played a decisive role in guiding his country to the final.

He also praised Messi's attacking contributions in Major League Soccer, acknowledging the difference in competitive level between the American league and Europe's leading championships.

Mboma's choice adds to the debate surrounding Messi's candidacy, which has already generated contrasting opinions.

As Foot Africa previously reported, Diego Simeone also backed Messi for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, citing his performances at the World Cup.

Mbappé second as Yamal, Kane and Kvaratskhelia complete the ranking

Mboma placed Kylian Mbappé second despite the French international finishing the 2025 /26 campaign without a major trophy for club or country.

The Cameroon legend emphasised Mbappé's individual statistics, including 31 goals in La Liga, 15 in the Champions League and ten at the World Cup.

He argued that the Real Madrid forward had fulfilled his individual responsibilities even when his team struggled.

Lamine Yamal occupies third place.

Mboma praised the Barcelona winger's technical ability, consistency and continued development, although he felt the teenager had not been particularly outstanding during Spain's victorious World Cup campaign.

Harry Kane is fourth, with Mboma highlighting the England captain's goalscoring ability, creativity and contribution to Bayern Munich's collective performances.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia completes the top five.

The former Cameroon striker praised the Georgian international's influence at PSG but suggested his country's failure to qualify for the World Cup limited his case for a higher position.

Patrick Mboma's complete 2026 Ballon d'Or top five

• Lionel Messi – Inter Miami / Argentina
• Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid / France
• Lamine Yamal – Barcelona / Spain
• Harry Kane – Bayern Munich / England
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Paris Saint Germain / Georgia

The ranking differs from the choices made by Algeria legend Rabah Madjer who placed Mbappé first, ahead of Kane and Ousmane Dembélé.

As Foot Africa reported on Madjer's Ballon d'Or selections, the former Porto midfielder also excluded African national team representatives from his five preferred candidates.

Both rankings are personal assessments rather than official Ballon d'Or voting results.

Why are Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mané missing?

The absence of African internationals is one of the most notable features of Mboma's selections.

Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi and Senegal forward Sadio Mané are both included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Hakimi earned recognition following another successful campaign with PSG while Mané's performances for Al-Nassr also secured him a place on the shortlist.

However, neither features in Mboma's personal ranking.

The Cameroon legend did not specifically explain their omissions, concentrating instead on the achievements of his five selected players.

His decision also leaves out PSG's Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d'Or holder, and Spain's World Cup winning midfielder Rodri.

When will the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner be announced?

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre.

According to UEFA's official announcement, the event will celebrate the award's 70th anniversary and will be staged in London for the first time.

The official winner will be determined by the international journalists' voting process, independently of the opinions expressed by former players.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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