Former Germany international and Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller has named Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappé as his two favourites to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Müller revealed his choices in his latest newsletter, where he said the two players had impressed him most with their individual performances.
“For me, there are two candidates whose individual performances have impressed me the most, and they are Michael Olise and his brilliant partner at the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé,” Müller wrote.
The former Bayern forward praised the pair for combining flair, attacking threat, efficiency and technical quality, saying their ability to make difficult actions look effortless was what, in his view, characterised a potential world footballer.
Müller was particularly impressed by Olise’s performances for Bayern during the 2025/26 campaign. The French winger helped the club win the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, while registering 15 goals and 19 assists in the Bundesliga. He also recorded five goals and seven assists in 13 Champions League appearances.
Olise’s form has also continued into the new season, with Müller specifically praising his performance in Bayern’s 7-0 Bundesliga victory over Union Berlin.
Mbappé, meanwhile, remains among the leading names on the 30-player Ballon d’Or shortlist after another strong season with Real Madrid and France. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal are also among the nominees.
Müller’s choices mean his former Bayern teammate Kane does not feature among his top two picks, despite the England captain’s remarkable 2025/26 campaign. Kane scored 73 goals for club and country and helped Bayern win the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in London on October 26, with the final decision to be determined by the international voting process.
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