Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has named two of his favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award.

The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to be held at the London Palladium later today, Monday, October 26.

Among the football stars in contention for the coveted prize are England’s Harry Kane, Spain’s Lamine Yamal, France’s Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise, and Argentina’s Lionel Messi, among others.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, the former Super Eagles coach named Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise as his preferred candidates for the award.

“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.”

The 73-year-old added that Kylian Mbappé also stood a great chance of winning the prestigious prize.

“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.

WDN