Speaking at a press conference on Thursday ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Monaco, the Spanish coach made his position clear. “The Ballon d’Or should go to a Paris Saint-Germain player,” he said.
Enrique pointed to the collective success of his squad and the individual achievements of key figures within the dressing room. He highlighted that several PSG players have already lifted the Champions League trophy, while midfielder Fabián Ruiz was part of Spain’s World Cup-winning team. He also referenced Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or holder.
“We have players who have won the Champions League… We have Fabián, who won the World Cup as well… We have Ousmane who won the Ballon d’Or last season,” Enrique explained. “That’s my opinion.”
At the same time, the 56-year-old was careful to downplay the importance of individual awards. “I’m not interested in individual prizes,” he added. “We must stay focused on what is important for the team. Football is a collective sport.”
The comments come as the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or gathers momentum. The shortlist is expected to be released later this month, with the winner to be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October.
PSG have enjoyed sustained success under Enrique, including consecutive Champions League triumphs. The coach’s public backing of his own players adds another voice to the ongoing debate over who deserves the sport’s most prestigious individual honour.
While Enrique stopped short of naming a single favourite, his message was unambiguous: the Ballon d’Or, in his view, belongs in Paris once again.