The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be handed out on October 26 and the race for the prestigious individual award remains open. Former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has admitted that it is difficult to identify a clear favorite, stressing that this year there is no footballer who has clearly stood out from the rest.
In an interview with the Spanish show "El Partidazo de COPE", Rakitic said that the players' performances have been scattered between clubs and national teams, especially after the World Cup.
"During this year I haven't seen any player who has particularly stood out, neither at his club nor at the World Cup," said the Croatian.
Rakitic then recalled the era when the Ballon d'Or race was dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
"For years we were used to everything being decided between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But there are no such players anymore. There are many who have stood out in their leagues, especially with goals, but then they have not done so well in the World Cup. Or the opposite has happened. There is no figure for whom we can say that he is the clear favorite," he declared.
However, the former Barcelona player had a clear preference for the nationality of the winner. According to him, a Spanish footballer should take home the trophy this year.
"For me, the Spaniards are the favourites. You can pick five or six names and whoever you pick, you'll be right. For me, a Spaniard has to win," Rakitic said.
When asked about the three names he would put on the podium, Rakitic mentioned Michael Oliseh, Lamine Yamal and Rodri. He singled out the Bayern Munich star in particular, saying that there was something different about him, even though he admitted that his performance at the World Cup was not perfect.
"Personally, I'm a big fan of Oliseh. He has something special, but his World Cup wasn't perfect. Next to him, I would put Lamine on the podium and again Rodri," Rakitic said.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on October 26, while Rakitic's statements further add to the debate about a competition that, according to him, does not have an undisputed favorite.
