Ballon d’Or 2026: Football’s Biggest Names Bring Their Fashion Game
The 2026 Ballon d’Or Awards are essentially the Oscars of football, bringing together the sport’s biggest names to celebrate achievements on the pitch and humanitarian work beyond it.
Flower Power
Barcelona and Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who collected the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award, wore a Chanel Resort 2027 suit featuring a slightly cropped jacket, but the focal point was undoubtedly the oversized pink feather camellia. The accessory has been compared online to everything from a jellyfish to a virus, but I do love a statement accent.
I just wish it were a tad smaller. The proportions of Imane Khelif’s white feather camellia, worn with a Chanel suit at Cannes earlier this year, were perfect. Here, I feel the flower is wearing Lamine instead of the other way around.
An Alternative Approach
Bayern Munich and France’s Michael Olise opted for Yaku, giving us one of the night’s more unconventional tailoring choices. The asymmetric jacket, decorative buttons and military-inspired detailing are a welcome departure from traditional black tie. The detailed trousers are generously cut, but they work with the jacket’s proportions, making this one of the more interesting looks of the evening.
Trouser Trouble
Real Madrid and France’s Kylian Mbappé, one of Jonathan Anderson’s first ambassadors for Dior, wore a black velvet shawl-collar tuxedo. As much as I love a shawl-collar jacket, I cannot overlook the length of those trousers. The bunching around the ankles is bad enough, but the excess fabric running up the legs makes the fit even more frustrating. This beautifully tailored jacket deserved better. He completed his look with a Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo Yellow Gold watch.
A Choice That Matters
Bukayo Saka, who plays for Arsenal and England, accepted the Sócrates Award in recognition of his incredible humanitarian work with BigShoe, a charity through which he has helped fund more than 120 life-saving medical operations for children in Kano, Nigeria.
I wish we had a full-length photograph, because his Wales Bonner Spring 2027 suit was one of the best of the night. Beyond the cut and silhouette, the label’s signature single satin lapel gives the tailoring an unexpected twist. But what makes this choice especially meaningful is the label itself. Grace Wales Bonner’s work celebrates Black cultural identity, heritage and craftsmanship, making it a fitting choice for a footballer being recognised for his contribution to children in Nigeria.
The look was accented with the Wales Bonner Compass brooch, featuring a hand-painted recycled glass bead crafted by artisans in Ghana, alongside rutilated quartz, tiger’s-eye disc beads and gold-plated brass, with finishing completed in Italy. No two brooches are identical.
As an Arsenal supporter, I couldn’t be prouder of my boy.
From the Waist Up
Real Madrid and Côte d’Ivoire’s Yan Diomandé wore Dolce & Gabbana, and we all know how good the Italian house can be when it comes to tailoring. Unfortunately, the trousers have left me completely confused. I suspect he wore them low-slung, because there is so much gathering that they almost resemble harem pants. The velvet jacket, satin lapels and brooch are excellent, but the trousers let the entire look down. This was so good from the waist up.
Proportions Gone Wrong
Barcelona and Spain’s Rodri attended with his wife, Laura Iglesias, both wearing Dolce & Gabbana. Her purple gown is fine, although I don’t think the black handbag works with it. But I’m more concerned about Rodri’s suit. Once again, I’m baffled by the proportions of a Dolce & Gabbana suit. The tailoring doesn’t sit particularly well on him, and the overall effect is unflattering. As much as I loved the tonal tailoring on Saka, I’m not getting the same result here.
Faith Restored
Spain and Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simón, who collected the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, wore Dolce & Gabbana and instantly restored my faith in the house’s tailoring. The fit, the proportions and the classic black-tie styling are exactly what I wanted to see from the label. After the previous two looks, this was a welcome reminder of what Dolce & Gabbana does best.
Best of the Best
Bayern Munich and England’s Harry Kane, who won the Men’s Ballon d’Or and Men’s Striker of the Year awards, was also one of my best-dressed men of the night. Opting for British tailoring in a Thom Sweeney tuxedo, he delivered everything I want from formal menswear: excellent proportions, a beautifully fitted double-breasted jacket and trousers that fall exactly where they should. Unlike Lamine, Harry opted for a small accent with his red poppy, which was all the embellishment he needed.
His wife, Kate Kane, wore a beautiful BOSS off-the-shoulder gown, styled with diamond jewellery from British fine jewellery house Boodles. They made a handsome couple on the red carpet.
Bigger Is Better?
Bayern Munich and Colombia’s Luis DÃaz wore Jacquemus’ Le Bastide jacket, which we previously saw on Josh Hartnett. The boxy, collarless silhouette and oversized trousers suit his relaxed approach to tailoring. When the right size is selected, this is the sort of oversized tailoring that works for me.
A Burgundy Moment
Paris Saint-Germain and France’s Ousmane Dembélé, who accepted the Men’s Club of the Year award on behalf of PSG, was also the returning Ballon d’Or winner and one of my best-dressed men of 2025. This year, he opted for a burgundy Zegna tuxedo. I love that he chose this colour instead of another black suit, especially with the matching shirt and bow tie. However, I would have sized down. The jacket looks a little too roomy.
Back to Black
Real Madrid and Spain defender Marc Cucurella wore Louis Vuitton, opting for a black double-breasted suit with satin peak lapels. I like the simplicity of the styling.
A Touch of Gold
Aston Villa and Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi swapped the traditional tie for a gold chain, which complemented the brooch pinned to his Saint Laurent double-breasted suit. The oversized shoulders give the look a distinctly Saint Laurent silhouette, and the gold accents are enough to give the all-black ensemble some personality.
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