PSG's Zabarnyi backs Dembele for 2026 Ballon d'Or after Strasbourg win
PSG defender Ilya Zabarnyi has backed teammate Ousmane Dembele to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, saying the French winger is one of several PSG players who deserve football's top individual honour. Zabarnyi made the comment in his post‑match interview after PSG's 3‑1 Ligue 1 victory over Strasbourg on Saturday, October 16, 2026. ‘We have many players in our team who deserve this award, and Dembele is one of them,’ he told Foot Mercato, adding that he hopes to see a PSG player lift the trophy because they have earned it.
Dembele already won the Ballon d'Or in 2025, edging out Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal for the accolade. His 2025‑26 season has seen him contribute goals and assists in both domestic league and Champions League play, reinforcing his claim for a repeat victory. The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled for later this year, with votes from international journalists determining the winner.
For Nigerian football fans who follow European stars, Zabarnyi’s endorsement highlights the continued high rating of Dembele and raises the question of whether any African‑based player might break the European dominance in future editions. Will you agree that Dembele deserves a second Ballon d'Or, or do you think another PSG teammate—or perhaps an African star—should be favoured for 2026?