In an exclusive interview with Afrik-Foot, former Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor puts Kylian Mbappé top of his ballot and reflects on the rarity of African winners since George Weah in 1995.
Emmanuel Adebayor leaves no room for doubt. Interviewed exclusively by Afrik-Foot this Saturday, 24 October 2026, the former Togo international striker named Kylian Mbappé as his favourite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, two days before a ceremony to be held in London. “For me, it’s Mbappé!” declared the former Sparrowhawks captain.
The choice of the Real Madrid and France attacker rests on a precise view of the ballot: according to Afrik-Foot, the 42-year-old Togolese believes the criterion of efficiency and pure individual performance must come before everything else. A stance he owns, even though observers were also citing Lamine Yamal, the FC Barcelona and Spain right winger, and Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich and England striker, among the huge favourites before the vote.
Efficiency as the only judge
The line lands hard, but it fits a sporting reading of the trophy. For the former goal-getter at Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid, output in front of goal and individual displays must dictate the ranking. That criterion leads Adebayor to Kylian Mbappé, the Real Madrid and France striker.
The context of this 2026 Ballon d’Or is unusual: the ceremony, scheduled for this Monday, 26 October 2026 in London, will be held for the very first time in its history in the British capital, to mark the award’s 70th anniversary. The votes of the international journalists on the jury have officially closed, according to Foot-Africa.
The weight of 1995’s lone crowning
Adebayor did not stop at naming a name. The former Sparrowhawks captain also spoke about the rarity of African winners since George Weah’s sole crown in 1995, Afrik-Foot reports. Three decades on, no other player from the continent has lifted the supreme reward.
The Togolese legend’s remarks come as Real Madrid have already confirmed their presence at Monday’s London ceremony, after a two-year boycott, according to Foot-Africa.
A London date for the answer
Yet Adebayor’s preferences do not pre-empt the result. Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane also fuelled observers’ predictions before the vote closed, and the suspense over the winner’s identity remains complete.
The official 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is set for Monday, 26 October 2026 in London, according to Foot-Africa. It will celebrate the 70th anniversary of an award Africa has won only once, in 1995, a point the 42-year-old Togolese returned to.