Former UEFA President and three-time Ballon d'Or winner Michel Platini has named the main contenders for the prestigious award in 2026.

​Operativ Media reports that the legendary official stated the competition has become more competitive and open following the era of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, naming Kylian Mbappe, Rodri, Lamine Yamal, Fabian Ruiz, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia among the main candidates.

​Platini emphasized that the Georgian midfielder Kvaratskhelia, who won the Champions League with PSG, is more deserving of the award. He noted that although Mbappe showed high productivity during the season, he failed to win a trophy at the team level, while other contenders stood out with various achievements.

​As a reminder, last season Khvicha Kvaratskhelia made 48 appearances across all competitions, recording 19 goals and 11 assists. During his career, the Georgian national team member has played for Napoli, as well as Rubin, Lokomotiv, Dinamo (Batumi), Rustavi, and Dinamo (Tbilisi).