France Football editor criticizes PSG's Ballon d'Or campaign for Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé finished second in the 2026 Ballon d'Or, just 41 points behind winner Harry Kane, according to France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia. Garcia praised Mbappé's campaign while criticizing Paris Saint-Germain's communication strategy. Garcia said PSG should have focused its promotional efforts on Ousmane Dembélé instead of splitting support among multiple players. PSG's Khvicha Kvaratskhelia finished sixth, Dembélé seventh, and Fabián Ruiz tenth, despite the club winning the Champions League. PSG's approach was complicated by Kvaratskhelia's absence from the World Cup and Dembélé's injury-plagued season. The club had backed Dembélé the previous year but chose not to risk upsetting egos in a World Cup year.