Thierry Henry backs Mbappe and Olise for 2026 Ballon d'Or

Thierry Henry has placed Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise at the head of his Ballon d’Or shortlist, keeping the award firmly open rather than identifying an undisputed winner. The former France striker believes both French players have credible cases in a field marked by competing strengths and shortcomings.

The 2026 ceremony is scheduled for 26 October in London. Henry considers Mbappe a serious contender despite his lack of a major title, noting that previous winners have also lifted the trophy without claiming a major honour during the season. Olise’s case is built on his influence as a creator, after leading the assist charts at the World Cup, in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League.

Henry also assessed the other leading candidates. Harry Kane’s scoring numbers are strong, but he was not named the best player in either Germany or England. Jude Bellingham excelled at the World Cup but had a weaker season with Real Madrid, while Rodri’s campaign was affected by a knee injury and limited involvement with Manchester City. Lamine Yamal has impressed at Barcelona, although Henry believes his World Cup performance fell short of his club form.

Ousmane Dembele remains another French possibility, but Henry pointed to his limited league appearances last season, even as he finished as France’s best player. With no clear favourite, Henry’s position is that either Mbappe or Olise would be a deserving winner.