Former Barça captain dismisses Mbappé: "He has no chance at the Ballon d'Or"

The build-up to the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony keeps the debate burning over who should win the most coveted individual prize in world football. Voting has already closed, but the predictions remain wide open in an edition many regard as one of the most contested in recent years. Real Madrid are firmly backing Kylian Mbappé, yet José Vicente 'Tente' Sánchez, a former FC Barcelona captain, has drastically reduced the French forward's chances: in his view, Mbappé has no realistic shot at lifting the trophy this year.

• José Vicente 'Tente' Sánchez says Mbappé has no chance at the 2026 Ballon d'Or because he has not won any titles this season.
• The former Barça captain places Lamine Yamal, Rodri Hernández and Fabián Ruiz above the Real Madrid striker.
• Sánchez calls it "a disgrace" that Pedri and Raphinha are missing from the 30-man shortlist.
• Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Pau Cubarsí represent FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team on the list of candidates.

Why 'Tente' Sánchez rules Mbappé out of the Ballon d'Or race

The former Barça captain, who led the club during the first half of the 1980s in a dressing room that included Diego Armando Maradona, spoke to Radio Marca to mark his 70th birthday. In the interview, Sánchez laid out his criteria for assessing who deserves the prize. His demand is straightforward: without titles, there is no candidacy. And that, in his opinion, is the major handicap weighing down Mbappé this season.

Kylian Mbappé's trophy-less season, his biggest obstacle

Sánchez argued that the French international has not lifted a single trophy during the campaign under evaluation and that this void prevents him from competing head-to-head with other players who have added collective and individual success. The former footballer acknowledged the Madrid striker's talent, but pointed out that a Ballon d'Or demands something more than ability: it requires a trophy cabinet to back up the candidacy. In his view, Mbappé may deserve it in the future if he wins titles, but not in this edition.

Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Fabián: the trio who do deserve the award

Against the Frenchman's candidacy, the former Barcelona captain put forward three names that, in his analysis, are ahead in the race for the trophy. He mentioned Fabián Ruiz, Rodri Hernández and Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old whom he considers one of the leading favorites to take the prize. The young Barça winger arrives backed by an outstanding season and by the World Cup title won with the Spanish national team, an argument that also works in favor of Rodri and Pau Cubarsí, both included in the 30-man shortlist.

'Tente' Sánchez's outrage: a "disgrace" without Pedri or Raphinha

The former academy product's criticism did not stop at Mbappé's candidacy. Sánchez, who began his career as an interior midfielder and finished it as a right-back, raised his voice when assessing the full list of nominees. He finds it unacceptable that two fundamental pieces of the current Barcelona side are missing from the 30 Ballon d'Or hopefuls. In his opinion, the absence of Pedri and Raphinha is an injustice that is hard to explain, and he described that decision with one forceful word: a disgrace.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or, a wide-open race with a Spanish stamp

This year's ceremony is shaping up as one of the most uncertain in memory. Spain's World Cup triumph has boosted the chances of several internationals playing in LaLiga, especially at FC Barcelona and other major European clubs. That collective victory gives significant weight to candidates such as Lamine Yamal or Rodri, who reach the final stretch of the debate with very strong credentials. Meanwhile, Real Madrid continue to back Mbappé, although authoritative voices in Spanish football, such as 'Tente' Sánchez, believe his season does not measure up to the occasion.

How other sectors of Real Madrid and Barcelona see the race

The clash of opinions between Spain's two biggest clubs fuels a debate that goes beyond mere silverware. From the Madrid camp, Mbappé's goalscoring impact and his presence in decisive matches are defended, even though he has no titles to show for this campaign. On the Barcelona side, however, the argument remains that the Ballon d'Or must also reward collective achievements, and in that regard the seasons of players like Lamine Yamal and Rodri offer credentials that are hard to dispute. The discussion will run all the way to the night of the gala.