Potential Vote Splitting, L'Equipe: PSG Do Not Want to Push One Player in Ballon d'Or Race

According to L'Equipe, Paris do not want to push one particular player in the Ballon d'Or race.

L'Equipe reported that this year, nothing can be predicted and nothing can be certain. No rumor can be trusted, and the only option is endless debate over every selection criterion: how much individual goals are worth compared with team honors, whether the World Cup is above the Champions League, and the only consensus this year is that there is simply no clear favorite.

For Paris Saint-Germain, this means the club will have to face a major issue in the coming weeks — the 'elephant in the room' standing in the corridors of the Poissy training center, waiting for the announcement of the 2026 France Football Ballon d'Or winner. The ceremony will be held in London on October 26.

On Tuesday, L'Equipe's website published the list of 30 Ballon d'Or nominees selected by France Football. It is not surprising that some controversial choices appear on the edge of the list, as that is part of the nature and meaning of the award, but most selected players will receive recognition. This stage also marks the official start of another campaign, although the competition had actually begun long ago.

After Mbappe naturally campaigned for himself for the Ballon d'Or and received public support from Real Madrid, the race entered a new phase. Real Madrid have always been very skilled at selecting and promoting their own Ballon d'Or candidates, although they have not always respected voting results and have not always accepted defeat.

Among the other natural candidates, Rodri has had an average club season, Messi lost the World Cup final and plays in Major League Soccer, Kane has not won a major trophy, and Yamal's World Cup performances were not convincing. PSG has an 'advantage in numbers,' but could also face the problem of votes being split.

PSG have three main contenders: reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Kvaratskhelia, the best player of their second Champions League title, and Fabian Ruiz, the only player to win both the Champions League and World Cup in the same year while starting both finals. Luis Enrique will remind them to choose their words carefully before October 26.

PSG clearly do not want to choose between their own candidates. In this list, the two most successful collectives of the season occupy important positions: PSG at club level and Spain at national team level.

Although one of PSG's 10 nominees joined the number through the transfer market — they signed Ferran Torres, who was the only scorer in the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina (Spain won 1-0 after extra time). Since the Ballon d'Or only considers performances from the previous season, PSG remain the first club to have 10 nominees.

The center-back pairing of Marquinhos and Pacho, who failed to make PSG's list of nine nominees a year ago, have both been selected this time. Doué missed out on the 30-man list, failing to gain enough support from his World Cup performances. Safonov was also not included, as there are no goalkeepers in this year's 30-man list.

There are six Spanish World Cup-winning members on the list: Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Yamal, Marc Cucurella and Pau Cubarsi. In comparison, there are only five French players: Mbappe, Dembele, Michael Olise, Upamecano and William Saliba.

The list is also more open to players from around the world and surprise figures who emerged during the World Cup in the United States, including Mexican player Julian Quinones. However, there is only one Serie A player on the list — Lautaro Martinez.

For a long period in the past, the Ballon d'Or often went to Italy. Soon, we will know whether the trophy will remain in Paris and its surrounding area.