Mustapha Badri, the Moroccan journalist who voted in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, claims that several individuals tried to influence his decision and persuade him not to rank Achraf Hakimi first.
Nearly a week after Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, the award continues to generate controversy. Alongside debates over the result, suspicious betting activity surrounding the rankings on the Polymarket platform has attracted attention, prompting France Football to file a formal complaint.
Meanwhile, the individual votes published on Saturday have sparked heated discussions on social media. Mustapha Badri, General Manager of Al Mountakhab and Morocco’s representative on the jury, ranked Hakimi first, followed by Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal. He has since spoken publicly about his choice and the pressure he allegedly faced.
In an interview with Africafoot, Badri defended his decision, pointing to Hakimi’s performances, statistics and commitment to Morocco. He also acknowledged that his Moroccan roots influenced his choice, while insisting that his vote had a sporting justification. However, he made a more surprising revelation about the final hours before voting closed. “Certain individuals reached out to try and influence me, urging me to vote against Achraf Hakimi in favour of another player,” he claimed, without revealing the player’s identity. Badri added that he rejected the requests, arguing that his experience exposed attempts to influence the voting process. His allegations could fuel further debate surrounding the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
