Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr believes the 2026 Ballon d’Or is open to several players but he personally favours Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal or Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise to win today.
The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held today at the London Palladium hosted by Thierry Henry and Kate Scott. It is the first time the gala has been staged in London a nod to the legacy of Stanley Matthews.
Rohr now head coach of Benin Republic’s Cheetahs spoke from London after watching Tottenham beat Chelsea 2-0 with his assistant Tunde Adelakun.
‘For the best player in the world it’s difficult to say. I think these four players everybody can win it’ he said. ‘Personally it could be fine for Michael Olise to win it but also Yamal and one of the two I think should win it.’
Yamal 19 scored 16 goals and made 11 assists as Barcelona retained La Liga and won the Spanish Super Cup. He also helped Spain to the 2026 World Cup title in the North America
Rohr did not categorically name Harry Kane the bookmakers’ favourite. The Bayern striker scored 73 goals in 65 competitive matches last season helping Bayern to trophies and England to third place at the World Cup. Olise is Kane’s club teammate at Bayern.
Rohr also made a case for Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé who won no major team trophy with club or country last term.
‘He would deserve it also because a few times he was there but it didn’t work out for him to be the winner’ Rohr said.
He said surprises are always possible when journalists vote. ‘Not easy to say who will win’ he added.