Kylian Mbappe leads Paraguay’s Ballon d’Or voting despite World Cup row

Kylian Mbappe was ranked first by Paraguay’s representative in the voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite a bitter dispute involving a Paraguayan senator earlier in the summer.

Journalist Ruben Dario da Rosa, who represented broadcasters Tigo Sports and Telefuturo, was one of 23 voters to place the France captain at the top of their ballot, according to French newspaper L’Equipe.

Da Rosa ranked Spain’s Rodri and Lamine Yamal second and third respectively. England captain Harry Kane, who won the Ballon d’Or, was placed sixth on his list.

The vote came only a few months after France and Paraguay met in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. France won 1-0, with Mbappe scoring the decisive goal from the penalty spot.

Following the match, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla made racist comments about the France captain. Mbappe responded by describing her as “a despicable woman who is unworthy of her position”.

The French Football Federation subsequently filed a complaint over the incident, prompting the Paris public prosecutor’s office to open an investigation into the senator’s remarks.

Da Rosa’s top 10 also included two other France players. Michael Olise was fifth, while Ousmane Dembele was eighth.

The Ballon d’Or is decided by 100 specialist journalists, each of whom selects the 10 best players. The player ranked first receives 15 points, followed by 12 points for second place, 10 for third, eight for fourth, seven for fifth, five for sixth, four for seventh, three for eighth, two for ninth and one for 10th.