Ballon d’Or juror says he faced pressure to rank Hakimi lower
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Seneweb and SeneNews
Mustapha Badri, Morocco’s juror for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, says he faced pressure in the hours before the vote not to put Achraf Hakimi first, but says he kept his ranking ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, according to Seneweb and SeneNews. The revelation follows Harry Kane’s win, controversy over bets deemed suspicious and France Football’s announcement of legal action, SeneNews reports.
Mustapha Badri, director general of Moroccan daily Al Mountakhab and Morocco’s juror for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, says he was contacted in the final hours before the vote and asked to change his ranking and place Achraf Hakimi behind another player, whose name he did not disclose. He says he stuck to his choice, according to Seneweb and SeneNews, which cite an interview with Africafoot.
Badri ranked Hakimi ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. He justified his choice by the Paris Saint-Germain defender’s performances, his influence on the pitch and his commitment to the Moroccan national team, while acknowledging that his attachment to Morocco also influenced his decision. “My Moroccan roots naturally played a part in my choice. But that absolutely does not mean my vote lacks sporting arguments,” he said, according to SeneNews.
The comments came after Harry Kane was awarded the trophy and jurors’ ballots were published. SeneNews also recalled the controversy over bets deemed suspicious on Polymarket, following which France Football announced legal action.
