The thirty men's nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or were published on 8 September. In the week since, five of them have made their case out loud, and three did it in the pages of France Football, the magazine that runs the award.
Here is what they actually said.
Kylian Mbappé: "There was no player better than me"
Mbappé spoke to France Football and did not hedge.
"I believe I can win it this year. It's one of my goals, and a short-term one at that."
"There was no player better than me."
He went further on what he thinks the prize is for. "My idea of the Ballon d'Or comes from the Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo era, you don't give it to ordinary players, you give it to players who are different."
"I think I did things that were different this year, so I believe I can win it."
Real Madrid won nothing last season. Mbappé's argument is that the Ballon d'Or is an individual award and should be read as one.
Lamine Yamal: "Mbappé and I are the two best in the world"
Yamal narrowed the field to two, on the Spanish platform Movistar on Sunday.
"I honestly believe there are two of us who are the best in the world, and this year I'd deserve it because of what I've won."
"As far as I'm concerned, Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. It's clear to me, and everyone who watches the matches knows it."
He won La Liga and the World Cup. That is the case he is making, and he is making it against the same player who says nobody was better than him.
Ousmane Dembélé: "It will stay in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player"
The holder was the most direct of all, again to France Football, published on 12 September.
"I don't think the outcome for this trophy is uncertain. I think it will stay in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player."
Asked for his own top three, he left himself out of it. "My top 3? A mix: 'Kvara', Harry Kane, who had a very, very good season, and, I think, Kylian Mbappé."
"Oh no, I never put myself in the mix for things like that. I never vote for myself."
He also made a case for two others. "Michael Olise could be in the running because he had an incredible season, he was the best player in the Bundesliga." And on his own defender Willian Pacho: "I hope he isn't overlooked this year, because he deserves it."
Fabián Ruiz: the midfielder's argument
Ruiz was the only player to win both the World Cup and the Champions League last season, and his pitch to France Football was about position rather than himself.
"Rodri won the Ballon d'Or two years ago. Even if defenders and goalkeepers still have difficulty distinguishing themselves, I think that today what counts is more the role than the position on the field. Setting an example so that children who are starting out also look at midfielders, defenders and goalkeepers is important."
Asked whether anyone had a better season than him, he split the question. "It depends. In terms of titles, no. Individually, great players have had an excellent season and their level is beyond doubt. There are many candidates."
"Where do I stand in the race for the Ballon d'Or? It's up to the voters to decide. The most important thing for me is to make myself available to the team, while seeking to be one of the best. Being among the 30 is a privilege."
Harry Kane: "Stuff I can't control"
Kane's comments came in August, before the shortlist was published, and they are the flattest of the five.
"Extremely proud to have put in the season I did last year. I think the Ballon d'Or is as big as it gets from an individual point of view. I know I had a great season last season, but as always, the focus is on this new season. The Ballon d'Or is not in my hands. I've done what I can do in terms of putting in the performances. It's now down to votes and other people and the media. Stuff I can't control. We'll see what happens. Obviously, it'd be amazing if it was to happen."
Where that leaves the argument
Two players say they are the best in the world and one of them says he is one of two. The reigning winner says the trophy is not leaving his dressing room and names three players who are not him. The one man who won both club and international football's biggest prizes is arguing for midfielders in general. And the bookmakers' favourite says it is out of his hands.
The vote closes before 26 October, when the ceremony is held in London for the first time. Nobody on this list gets to cast one.
