Ballon d’Or 2026 voter reveals calls to deny Achraf Hakimi top spot

Moroccan journalist Mustafa Badri says he was contacted by people trying to persuade him not to vote for Achraf Hakimi as his choice for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Badri, a member of the international panel responsible for selecting the winner, placed the Paris Saint-Germain defender first in his ranking. He was the only one of the 100 journalists from around the world to put Hakimi at the top of his ballot.

Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal occupied second and third place in Badri’s selection, matching their positions in the final result. Harry Kane finished sixth overall after narrowly receiving more votes than Mbappe.

Speaking to Africa Foot on Saturday, Badri said he had been subjected to pressure shortly before submitting his final vote.

“Some people contacted me in an attempt to influence me and persuade me to vote against Achraf Hakimi in favour of another player, whose name I would prefer not to mention,” he said.

“I did not give in to those requests, but this experience shows that attempts are made to influence this kind of voting.”

Badri said such approaches were part of wider efforts to shape the decisions of journalists involved in the award.

“There are pressure groups seeking to contact journalists and direct their choices,” he added. “I experienced this myself without falling into the trap.

“It is a form of lobbying and an attempt to gather support, which can sometimes lead to choices that are far removed from strict sporting logic.”

Badri backs Hakimi’s credentials

The Moroccan journalist also reiterated his belief that Hakimi deserved to win the Ballon d’Or.

“He is not an ordinary player,” Badri said. “He is an excellent defender, but he is also an attacker with outstanding technical qualities.”

The 100 journalists on the panel each selected their preferred candidates before the final standings were announced. Hakimi’s first-place finish on Badri’s ballot made him the sole voter to put the Paris Saint-Germain full-back ahead of the other contenders.

Badri said the calls he received demonstrated the potential influence exerted around the voting process, while maintaining that he had kept his decision unchanged.