Carragher predicts 2026 Ballon d’Or winner, country to win World Cup in United States

Former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher has confidently stated that Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid is poised to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

He also predicted that France would clinch the World Cup title in the United States later this year.

Carragher pointed out that during the previous World Cup, where France secured second place to Argentina, Mbappe finished third in the Ballon d’Or rankings, trailing Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.

This season, Mbappe has been in stellar form, netting 29 goals and providing five assists in 24 matches for Madrid under manager Xabi Alonso.

“In a World Cup year, the Ballon d’Or is always won by the standout player of the victorious country,” Carragher told The  Telegraph.

“France is my prediction to win [the FIFA World Cup] in the United States. This could very well be Kylian Mbappe’s year, especially after his third-place finish, behind Messi and Haaland, after France’s defeat in the last World Cup final.”