William Saliba among the first French at the 2026 Ballon d'Or

Under the lights of the Ballon d'Or 2026 theater, on Monday evening, the spotlights fell on Arsenal defender William Saliba. The ceremony revealed its first verdicts, highlighting the Premier League champion and Champions League finalist with the Gunners. Saliba was the first of the five French to learn his ranking.

He discovered that he was the first of the five French to learn his placement, marking an important milestone for French players. This recognition confirms the constant presence of the French among the best in the world.

His performance with Arsenal, English champion and Champions League finalist, shows the impact of the French in the biggest European clubs.