Ghanaian journalist Michael Oti Adjei has defended his decision to rank Kylian Mbappe as the best player in the world in his vote for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting the Real Madrid forward’s performances throughout the season made him the obvious choice.

Oti Adjei placed Mbappe at the top of his ballot, ahead of eventual winner Harry Kane, who finished second in the Ghanaian journalist’s personal rankings.

“Because I am convinced he is the best player in the world based on everything he did in the season. That is a good enough reason,” Oti explained.

Despite missing out on the award, Mbappe finished second in the overall standings with 1,027 points, just 28 behind Kane, who collected 1,055 points to secure the prestigious individual honour.

Lamine Yamal of Barcelona finished third with 881 points, while Lionel Messi secured fifth place in the final rankings.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or voting process involved 100 journalists representing the highest-ranked nations in the FIFA world rankings. Each voter selected 10 players from the shortlist, with 15 points awarded to their first choice, 12 to their second, followed by decreasing points down to one for tenth place.

Oti Adjei has represented Ghana on the voting panel in several recent editions. In 2025, he placed Ousmane Dembele first on his ballot, with the French forward eventually going on to win the award.

His latest selection featured a combination of established superstars and players who made significant contributions throughout the season, with Kane and Yamal completing his top three.

Michael Oti Adjei’s full 2026 Ballon d’Or voting list:

1. Kylian Mbappe
2. Harry Kane
3. Lamine Yamal
4. Lionel Messi
5. Ousmane Dembele
6. Declan Rice
7. Michael Olise
8. Joao Neves
9. Bruno Fernandes
10. Erling Haaland

Oti Adjei’s involvement in the Ballon d’Or voting process stretches back almost two decades. Having represented Ghana on the panel since 2007, he has built a long-standing presence in the selection process, recognising outstanding performances from football’s biggest names.