LUIS ENRIQUE INSISTS PSG STAR DESERVES 2026 BALLON D’OR AFTER HISTORIC SEASON

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has thrown his support behind the club’s players in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, arguing that the prestigious individual award should remain in Paris after another remarkable season for the French champions.

Speaking ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 meeting with Monaco, Enrique said he was not personally concerned about which individual eventually receives the award, but maintained that the achievements of his squad make a strong case for a PSG player to be crowned the world’s best footballer.

“I’m not interested in who wins the Ballon d’Or, but in my opinion, it must be a PSG player,” Enrique said, highlighting the number of major honours collected by members of his squad over the period considered for the award.

The Spanish coach pointed to several candidates within the PSG ranks. He mentioned Fabián Ruiz, who helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup, as well as Ousmane Dembélé, who claimed the 2025 Ballon d’Or after playing a central role in PSG’s first Champions League triumph.

PSG also have other players attracting attention in the Ballon d’Or discussion. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has emerged as a serious contender after an impressive 2025–26 campaign, while Vitinha has also been mentioned among the players capable of challenging for the award. Kvaratskhelia recorded 10 goals and six assists in the Champions League during the campaign, giving him one of the competition's strongest attacking records.

Enrique’s argument is strengthened by PSG’s team success. The French club secured back-to-back Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026, giving several members of the squad a significant collection of honours during the Ballon d’Or evaluation period.

However, Enrique stressed that individual prizes were not his priority. According to the PSG boss, collective achievements remain more important than personal recognition, even though he believes his players have done enough to deserve serious consideration for the Ballon d’Or.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 26 in London, with the award race expected to feature a number of leading names from across European football. Among the prominent contenders are PSG players alongside stars such as Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and others.