George Weah remains the only African to have won the Ballon d'Or, in 1995. Since then, the continent has been hoping for a new winner.
Achraf Hakimi could have been a serious contender after his exceptional season with PSG in 2024-2025. But this year, no African player stands out.
Several factors explain this decline in 2026. European and South American contenders dominate the race for the most prestigious individual trophy.
