Barcelona legend Gerard Pique has named his trio of players who he thinks are setting the pace for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award in six weeks’ time when it takes place in London.
For the first time in 70 years, the Ballon d’Or award ceremony will not take place in Paris because it will take place to honor the inaugural winner, Stanley Matthews from England, in 1956.
Harry Kane hopes to become the fifth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or award after Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan, and the first since Michael Owen in 2001.
The England captain is the betting favorite to win the award this year, following a season where he scored 73 goals for his team and nation to help his team win the Bundesliga league.
According to TNTSports, Former defender Gerard Pique has named Harry Kane one of the players who have a chance to win the Ballon d’Or this year alongside two other Barca stars.
“For me, the three favorites are Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Rodri,” he said in a video on social media.
After spending 14 years with Barca, Pique managed to fit two of their finest players within his team’s top three by putting Yamal and his new teammate Rodri within his selection.
Rodri helped Spain win the FIFA World Cup with Spain during the summer alongside another 19-year-old player Yamal, and had also won the double domestic cup with his team Manchester City prior to joining his Spanish country.
Last season saw Yamal net 24 goals and give 18 assists to help his team win La Liga glory.
Recently, he stated that he deserved the award and that he and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe were the “best two players in the world.”
