Okocha backs Mbappe for Ballon d'Or, names UCL favorites

Austin Okocha, a football legend, has expressed his support for Kylian Mbappe in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, citing his impressive goalscoring record. In an interview with Le Journal du Dimanche, Okocha noted that Mbappe scored 10 goals in the World Cup, 15 in the Champions League, and 25 in the Spanish league.

He acknowledged the competitiveness of the Ballon d’Or race, mentioning other contenders such as Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, and several players from Paris Saint-Germain. Regarding the Champions League, Okocha identified Manchester City, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich as the leading contenders, emphasizing City’s significant investment of nearly €500 million to strengthen their squad during the summer transfer window.

He also praised Barcelona for their strong start to the season and the effective partnership between Raphinha and Yamal, while noting Bayern Munich's retention of their core players, making them formidable opponents.