Ballon d’Or 2026: Austin Okocha names favourite player, clubs to win UCL this season

Super Eagles icon, Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha has named Barcelona, Manchester City and Bayern Munich arsenic the favourites to triumph the UEFA Champions League rubric this season.

He besides picked Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé arsenic his prime for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award.

Okocha made his picks during an interrogation with French media outlet Le Journal du Dimanche up of Paris Saint-Germain’s forthcoming Champions League clash against Manchester City connected Wednesday.

The erstwhile Nigeria planetary acknowledged that the contention for the Ballon d’Or remains fiercely contested, with respective salient players, including Harry Kane, Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, vying for the award.

Nevertheless, helium argued that Mbappé deserves the accolade due to the fact that of his exceptional goalscoring grounds astatine the World Cup, successful the Champions League and successful the Spanish league.

He said, “The suspense is much breathtaking than ever. There are a bully half-dozen contenders: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, the PSG players.

“I deliberation Mbappé deserves it for having been the apical scorer successful the World Cup (10 goals), the Champions League (15) and the Spanish league (25).”

The erstwhile PSG midfielder identified Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich arsenic the starring contenders for Champions League glory.

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