Ousmane Dembélé names an Algerian as the “next Ballon d’Or”

After the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London, Ousmane Dembélé predicted that 20-year-old Algerian midfielder Ibrahim Maza of Bayer Leverkusen would one day win the award, commenting “Next ballon d’or InshAllah” on Maza’s Instagram post. Dembélé, the 2025 winner, finished seventh this year, with Harry Kane taking his place as the new laureate. The message prompted speculation about possible PSG interest in Maza, who is under contract with Leverkusen until June 2030. Maza finished ninth in the 2026 Kopa Trophy and has recorded three goals and three assists in ten appearances this season.