The Saudi Professional League made a notable presence in the final lists of the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards, announced by France Football magazine, with the nomination of four players active in its clubs: Senegalese Sadio Mane and Mexican Julian Quiñones for the Ballon d'Or for best player, and Moroccan Yassine Bounou and Senegalese Edouard Mendy for the Yashin Award for best goalkeeper.
The nomination of Mane, Al Nassr player, and Quiñones, Al Qadsiah striker, marks a first in the award's history, as this year sees the presence of Saudi League players in the Ballon d'Or nominees list for the first time, according to France Football. Mane delivered impressive attacking levels with Al Nassr this season, contributing to more than 35 goals in various local and continental competitions, while Quiñones stood out with Al Qadsiah by scoring more than 22 goals and providing eight assists in league matches.
The nomination of Bounou, Al Hilal goalkeeper, and Mendy, Al Ahli goalkeeper, reflects the presence of professional goalkeepers in the Saudi League in the competition for the Yashin Award, which honors the best goalkeeper, given Bounou's international record with the Moroccan national team and Mendy's contributions to Al Ahli, which won the AFC Champions League Elite. The 2026 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony is scheduled to be held in the British capital London tomorrow, Monday, October 26, in the 70th edition of the award launched by France Football in 1956, and organized in partnership with UEFA since 2024.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)