Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has identified four of his players as potential winners of the 2026 Ballon d’Or, highlighting the strength of a squad that has made history with its record representation on this year’s shortlist.
According to reports following PSG’s 6-1 Champions League victory over Slovan Bratislava, Enrique backed Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz as players capable of challenging for football’s most prestigious individual award.
Dembélé enters the race as the reigning Ballon d’Or winner. The French forward was instrumental in PSG’s successful Champions League campaign and remains among the most prominent candidates to retain the award.
Kvaratskhelia has also strengthened his credentials after an impressive European campaign. The Georgian winger recorded 10 goals and six assists in 16 Champions League appearances for PSG during the 2025-26 season.
Vitinha is another strong contender after finishing third in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting. The Portuguese midfielder played 17 Champions League matches during PSG’s title-winning campaign, scoring six goals and providing an assist. He was also named UEFA’s Player of the Match in the Champions League final against Arsenal.
Ruiz has an additional argument after helping PSG win the Champions League before becoming a World Cup winner with Spain. PSG noted that he was the only player to win both the Champions League and World Cup during 2026.
Enrique’s comments underline the remarkable depth of PSG’s squad. The French club has a record 10 players among the 30 Ballon d’Or nominees, including Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves and Willian Pacho.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26, with PSG seeking further recognition after winning the Champions League for a second consecutive season.
