The Ballon d'Or through Algerian eyes.. The former Porto star puts Mbappé on the throne and reveals his controversial list
Algerian football legend Rabah Madjer has named Kylian Mbappé as his preferred winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or placing Harry Kane second and reigning champion Ousmane Dembélé third in his personal ranking ahead of the 26 October ceremony.
The former Porto striker and 1987 African Footballer of the Year revealed his five preferred candidates in an exclusive interview published by Africafoot on 20 October.
Madjer who helped Algeria win the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, based his selections on individual performances, goalscoring statistics, consistency and collective achievements during the 2025 /26 campaign.
His choices include several notable decisions, particularly placing Spain's World Cup-winning youngster Lamine Yamal fourth and excluding Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi and Senegalese star Sadio Mané from the top five.
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Why Rabah Madjer believes Kylian Mbappé deserves the Ballon d'Or
Speaking to Africafoot, Madjer explained why he believes Mbappé deserves football's most prestigious individual award despite failing to win a major trophy with Real Madrid or France.
"For me, he has been the best player in the world since 2022 and the World Cup in Qatar" Madjer said.
The Algerian highlighted the French forward's remarkable consistency and ability to influence matches through both goals and assists.
Mbappé finished the 2025 /26 season as the Champions League's leading scorer with 15 goal before winning the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Real Madrid forward scored ten goals during the tournament, becoming the first player to finish as the World Cup's leading scorer in two consecutive editions.
As Foot Africa previously reported on Mbappé's historic World Cup achievement, the French captain also became the competition's all time leading scorer with 22 goals.
For Madjer, those individual achievements outweigh Mbappé's lack of major collective silverware.
Harry Kane second, Ousmane Dembélé third
Madjer placed Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane in second position, praising his extraordinary goalscoring output and influence beyond the penalty area.
The England international scored 73 goal for club and country during the 2025 /26 campaign while also contributing through his passing, movement and defensive work.
Madjer believes Kane's all round qualities deserve recognition alongside his finishing ability.
Ousmane Dembélé completes the top three.
The Paris Saint Germain forward won the 2025 Ballon d'Or and enjoyed another trophy laden campaign including Champions League success.
However, Madjer believes injuries prevented Dembélé from matching the individual level he achieved during his award winning season.
The Algerian nevertheless acknowledged the French winger's technical qualities and importance to PSG.
Lamine Yamal fourth despite World Cup triumph
One of the most notable aspects of Madjer's ranking is his decision to place Lamine Yamal fourth.
The Barcelona youngster enjoyed a successful 2026, helping Spain win the FIFA World Cup and securing the Spanish league title with his club.
Madjer praised the teenager's ability to score, create opportunities and influence major matches despite his young age.
He also expressed confidence that Yamal could eventually win the Ballon d'Or if he maintains his development.
Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior completes the Algerian legend's top five.
Madjer highlighted the Real Madrid player's individual qualities but suggested Brazil's elimination in the World Cup round of 16 had affected his assessment of the winger's season.
Madjer's complete 2026 Ballon d'Or top five
The former Algeria international's personal ranking is:
- Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid / France
- Harry Kane – Bayern Munich / England
- Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint-Germain / France
- Lamine Yamal – Barcelona / Spain
- Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid / Brazil
The selections differ from Foot Africa's earlier post-World Cup assessment of the leading Ballon d'Or contenders which placed Yamal ahead of Kane and Mbappé.
Madjer's ranking reflects his personal preferences rather than an official Ballon d'Or ballot.
Why did Madjer leave Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mané out?
Another significant detail is the absence of African national team representatives from the Algerian legend's five selections.
Hakimi enjoyed another successful period with PSG while Mané's performances earned him renewed recognition among the candidates for the award.
However, neither appears in Madjer's preferred top five.
The former Algeria international did not provide a specific explanation for excluding either player, focusing instead on the achievements of those he selected.
His choices also leave out Rodri, who helped Spain win the World Cup and received the tournament's Golden Ball award.
The omissions highlight how differently individual performances and collective trophies can be assessed in the Ballon d'Or debate.
When will the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner be announced?
According to UEFA's official ceremony announcement, the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre.
The event marks the award's 70th anniversary and will be held in London for the first time.
The men's winner will be determined through the official voting process, independently of the personal rankings shared by former players such as Madjer.
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