Ballon d’Or 2026: Alex Baena names top 3 players to win award

Atletico Madrid midfielder, Alex Baena, has named his top three players to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Organisers of the Ballon d’Or had already announced a list of 30 players to compete for the award.

However, according to Baena, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi are his top three favourites to win the award next month.

“My Ballon d’Or top 3? Lamine, Rodri, and Messi,” Baena said in an interview shared by DAZN Futbol.

‘”Lamine is the best in the world. Rodri proved it at the World Cup – and Messi, with what he’s doing at 39 years old, it’s very hard for any player to do the same.”

Among the three players, only Yamal has never won the Ballon d’Or.

Rodri has won it once, while Messi has won it a record eight times.