Okocha backs Mbappe for Ballon d’Or, names UCL favourites this season
Super Eagles legend Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has named Barcelona, Manchester City and Bayern Munich as the favourites to win this season’s UEFA Champions League, and he believes Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé deserves the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Okocha made the comments during an interview with French outlet Le Journal du Dimanche ahead of PSG’s Champions League clash against Manchester City on Wednesday.
He said Mbappe’s record speaks for itself: the forward finished as top scorer at the 2022 World Cup with 10 goals, netted 15 in the Champions League this season and scored 25 goals in La Liga. While acknowledging that Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and several PSG teammates are also in the mix, Okocha insisted Mbappe’s consistency across competitions gives him the edge.
The former Nigeria international highlighted Manchester City’s big summer spending, Barcelona’s strong start to the campaign and Bayern Munich’s ability to keep their star players as reasons why those three clubs lead the UCL pack. For Nigerian fans, Okocha’s endorsement offers a trusted perspective on both the award and Europe’s elite club competition.
Who do you think will lift the Ballon d’Or this year, and which club do you see lifting the Champions League trophy?