Lothar Matthaus tips Ousmane Dembele to win 2026 Ballon d’Or, dismissing Mbappe and Rodri
Bayern Munich legend Lothar Matthaus has tipped Paris Saint‑Germain forward Ousmane Dembele to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, saying the French winger has an edge after helping PSG retain the UEFA Champions League last season. In his Sky Sports column, Matthaus ruled out Dembele’s France teammate Kylian Mbappe and Spain captain Rodri, noting Mbappe won the World Cup Golden Boot but lifted no trophy with Real Madrid, while Rodri’s World Cup win with Spain does not guarantee the award. Matthaus also praised Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Harry Kane for their domestic and international performances, though he did not name them as Ballon d’Or contenders.
For Nigerian football fans who follow the sport’s top individual honour, the commentary highlights which players pundits see as frontrunners and underscores the continued European dominance in the race. It also shows that, despite strong World Cup showings, individual trophy success remains a key factor in Ballon d’Or considerations—a point relevant when assessing African prospects.
The Ballon d’Or will be awarded later in 2026. Fans can watch how Dembele, Mbappe, Rodri and African performers such as Victor Osimhen or Ademola Lookman fare in club and international competitions over the coming months to see if the predictions hold.