Rakitic sees no clear favorite for the 2026 Ballon d'Or and backs an all-Spanish podium

The 2026 Ballon d'Or remains without a clear owner, and for Ivan Rakitic that uncertainty is exactly what makes this season so unusual. The former Croatia midfielder, a key figure at Barcelona and Sevilla for more than a decade, shared his personal view on the next winner and delivered a blunt conclusion: this year he has not seen a single player impose himself with authority over the rest, either at club level or at the World Cup.

• Rakitic does not identify a dominant candidate after the World Cup and the club season.
• He believes the Messi-Cristiano era left a void that nobody has filled yet.
• He backs a Spanish winner and mentions Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Michael Olise.
• He calls Olise a personal favorite even though his World Cup was not perfect.

What Rakitic said about the 2026 Ballon d'Or race

Speaking on El Partidazo on Cadena COPE, Rakitic explained that the big question around the award is still wide open and that even the decisive matches of the year have not fully cleared things up. In his view, no player has managed to shine consistently across the two major stages of the season: domestic competition and the World Cup.

That is the big question, whether we still need to watch those matches to get a clearer picture. I think that this year I have not seen any player who has particularly stood out, neither at his club nor at the World Cup.

The Croatian expanded on his reasoning by pointing out how much things have changed. For more than a decade, the fight for the trophy came down to two names who dominated every conversation, a dynamic that no longer exists. Now there are players capable of posting huge scoring numbers in their leagues but who then disappear at the World Cup, or exactly the opposite: players who shine with their national teams but fail to complete the year with their clubs.

Why Rakitic is backing Spanish football for the Ballon d'Or

The former Barcelona player's conclusion left no room for doubt. For him, the winner must come from the Spanish national team, a side that has shown a collective and individual level that is hard to match in recent months. Rakitic argued that there are up to five or six Spanish names with strong enough cases to lift the trophy, and that any of them would be a worthy winner.

For me, the Spaniards are the favorites. You can put five or six names in a bucket and pull out whichever one you want, and you would be right. For me, a Spaniard has to win it.

That faith in the Spanish group led him to answer naturally when asked to put together a hypothetical podium. Without hesitating, Rakitic placed three players connected to Spanish football in the top spots.

Rakitic's podium for the 2026 Ballon d'Or

The Croatian did not want to commit to a final order, but he did reveal the three names that would make up his ideal podium. The first name out of his mouth was Michael Olise, whom he described as a different kind of player and a personal favorite, even though he admitted the French winger's World Cup was not perfect.

Alongside the French star, Rakitic included Lamine Yamal, the breakout figure of Spanish football and one of the most decisive talents in the game right now, plus Rodri, who already knows what it means to win the Ballon d'Or and remains the absolute reference in his position.

You got me, but they would be three Spaniards. Personally, I am a huge fan of Olise. He has something different, but his World Cup has not been perfect. Alongside him, on the podium I would add Lamine and, once again, Rodri.

What this view means for the Ballon d'Or race

Rakitic's words reflect a level of uncertainty that has rarely been seen in the recent history of the award. Without a dominant figure like in the Messi-Cristiano era, the race looks more open than ever, with several profiles capable of fighting for it until the very end. His support for the Spanish block also reinforces the idea that the European champions have taken over as the dominant force in modern football.

The mention of Olise, who does not play in La Liga but shares the spotlight with Europe's biggest stars, adds nuance to a debate that will remain alive over the coming months. Until the decisive matches arrive and clear up the picture, Rakitic has already made his position clear: the 2026 Ballon d'Or should speak Spanish.

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