Luis Enrique has made a surprising pick for this year’s Ballon d’Or and snubbed the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Rodri.

The Paris Saint-Germain boss has coached all three players during his managerial career, and the trio is among the favorites to win the prestigious award. His time working with Messi at Barcelona was inevitably hugely successful, picking up nine trophies, including a historic continental treble.

Mbappe‘s last season at PSG came under Enrique, and he bagged 44 goals and 10 assists in 48 games before heading to Real Madrid. Before the Spaniard took the reins at the Parc des Princes, he spent a brief spell in charge of Spain’s national team, and he often turned to Rodri in midfield.

The trio were standout performers at this summer’s World Cup, with Rodri winning the Golden Ball after captaining his country to glory. Mbappe won the Golden Boot as France finished fourth, and Messi agonisingly missed out on a second World Cup in a row despite rolling back the years with inspired performances.

Luis Enrique Makes Surprising Ballon d’Or Pick

The current holder of the Ballon d’Or is Ousmane Dembele, who has been a talisman under Enrique. The French winger played a key role in PSG’s history-making 2025-26 season, helping them win a joint-record five trophies.

Enrique thinks Dembele should hand the award over to his PSG teammate when the ceremony takes place in London on October 26th. He told Spanish newspaper SPORT: “(Fabian Ruiz) won the World Cup, the European Championship two years ago, the Champions League twice in a row, and the Nations League… the Ballon d’Or! The Ballon d’Or for sure!”

Fabian Ruiz has been one of the biggest improvements at PSG since Enrique’s appointment back in July 2023. He is one of the Spanish coach’s favourites, pulling the strings in the middle of the park alongside Vitinha and Joao Neves.

Enrique’s captain Marquinhos agreed with his manager, adding: “All that is missing is the Ballon d’Or, that’s it.”

REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth

Ruiz has been sweeping up trophies in recent years and last season he won the Ligue 1 title, the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup, and the Trophee des Champions. With Spain, he became a world champion, adding to the European Championship he won back in 2024.

Now 30, the midfielder is starting to earn recognition for his exploits in the French capital and on the international stage. His club awarded him a new three-year contract earlier this summer, which includes the option to extend for a further year.

Will Fabian Ruiz Win The Ballon d’Or?

REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

Ruiz isn’t among the frontrunners to win the Ballon d’Or despite Enrique’s glowing endorsement of the Spanish star. While he is enjoying consistent trophy success, he isn’t quite the beating heart of the PSG team.

Stats courtesy of Transfermarkt – correct as of 12/08/2026

Nor the Spain side, who won a second World Cup this summer, as he came in and out of Luis de la Fuente’s team. He’s undoubtedly one of the most highly-admired midfielders in world football but if a La Roja star is to win the award,, it will likely be Rodri or Lamine Yamal.

Others in contention include Harry Kane, who broke goalscoring records for Bayern Munich en route to another Bundesliga win. Messi is in with a shout of winning a record-extending ninth Ballon d’Or, although playing in the MLS will be factored in.

Tottenham are now said to have been given the green light to sign former Arsenal star Folarin Balogun. Spurs are hoping to add a couple of forwards to their record-spending summer, having so far concentrated on bolstering their defence and midfield.

Roberto De Zerbi has already spent £237million on new recruits, with Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke taking up much of that spend. But he is yet to add any forwards, and that is expected to change over the coming weeks.

Tottenham are said to be prioritising a move for a winger currently, but they could yet add another striker, as long as the right deal comes up, or if they can shift one of their current frontmen.

According to new reports, Monaco and USMNT World Cup star Balogun is of interest, and the player is said to have approved a move, despite having come up through the ranks at Arsenal. Balogun grew up in London but ended up playing for the US due to being born Stateside.

Footmercato journalist Santi Aouna posted on X: “Folarin Balogun has given his green light to join Tottenham. As revealed on @footmercato, the Monaco striker is the Spurs’ priority. No official offer yet, but discussions are progressing between the various parties.”

Balogun has scored 24 goals in 72 league games for Monaco, and he scored three goals in five games as USMNT reached the World Cup Round of 16. Of course, he was notably at the centre of a controversy that saw him sent off and then dodge a suspension after a supposed Donald Trump interference.

The 25-year-old didn’t have a say in that, though, in his defence, and he will be looking to build on his impressive World Cup form at club level this coming season. Spurs are reportedly hoping that will be in North London, and they will reportedly have to pay €60million to get the deal done, which works out as £51.2million.

The last five players to play for both Arsenal and Tottenham

• Emmanuel Adebayor — Arsenal (2006–09), Tottenham (2011–15)
• William Gallas — Arsenal (2006–10), Tottenham (2010–13)
• David Bentley — Arsenal (2004), Tottenham (2008–11)
• Sol Campbell — Tottenham (1992–2001), Arsenal (2001–06, 2010)
• Rohan Ricketts — Arsenal (2001–02), Tottenham (2002–05)

What Spurs can expect from Balogun

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Balogon has received high praise over recent times, having established himself as a goalscorer for club and country. USMNT teammate Weston McKennie has said: “Obviously he’s a striker who’s very versatile. He can hurt you on the dribble, hurt you in behind, he’s a clinical finisher.” Meanwhile, Christian Pulisic has described him as ‘insane’.

Back in 2023, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: “He’s got something special. That’s why we gave him a long-term contract and have faith in him, and give him the long period that he’s having now, because the period he’s having now is different to the one before at Middlesbrough.”

Sir Alex Ferguson witnessed plenty during a managerial career that lasted over four decades. The Scot arrived on English shores to become Manchester United boss in the 1980s, when football looked very different from the sport we know today.

Players would regularly fly into knee-high challenges and still be permitted to remain on the field. The most notorious hardmen the game has ever seen emerged from this era before stricter laws were introduced to curb such aggressive behaviour.

Ferguson watched his sides battle against some of the toughest characters British football has ever produced, but one player stood above the rest. Legendary Tottenham player Dave Mackay, who also played for Hearts and Derby County, was once labelled ‘one of the hardest men of all time’ by the greatest manager in Premier League history.

Mackay played long before Ferguson began his managerial career, featuring during the 1960s, so it is difficult to imagine just how different the game was. He played and trained despite serious injuries, including a broken foot and even a fractured skull.

Ferguson was full of praise for Mackay after his death in 2015. Ranking him alongside the greatest Scottish players ever, the iconic manager said:

Mackay was not only among Scotland’s finest players; his remarkable toughness also impressed Ferguson, who added:

George Best on His ‘Hardest’ Opponent

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Ferguson was not the only person to speak highly of the late midfielder, as iconic Manchester United winger George Best shared the same view, calling Mackay one of the “hardest but bravest” players he had ever come up against.

When Ferguson heard those comments, he agreed entirely. He highlighted the former Spurs star’s ability to overcome injuries and return even stronger, saying: “Absolutely. He came back from two broken legs. He broke it against Manchester United actually and, in the recovery, he broke it again. That didn’t deter him.”