Ballon d’Or 2026: Thierry Henry names two favourites to win award

Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry, has named his two favourites to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Henry named Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe as his number one to win the Ballon d’Or, and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise to come close after the France captain.

According to him, Mbappe and Olise are not Mickey Mouse candidates for the Ballon d’Or.

“This year is a bit more complicated,” Henry said. “Harry Kane. It is not me, but the best player in Germany last year was Michael Olise.

“Rodri was outstanding at the World Cup, but he did not play so much during the season.

“Lamine Yamal did not have a good World Cup because he arrived injured.

“Kvaratskhelia was not at the World Cup. Lionel Messi, if Argentina won the World Cup, they would have bought the Ballon d’Or and the World Cup for him.

“That leaves you with Michael Olise, who is very close to my favourite, who is Kylian Mbappe. People will tell me that he did not win everything.

“He was the top goalscorer in the Champions League, top goalscorer in La Liga, and also at the World Cup. They are not Mickey Mouse candidates, but I would personally go with Mbappe and keep Olise close,” he said.