Journalist who voted in Ballon d’Or says he made a ‘mistake’ after surprising top 10 list is revealed
A Croatian journalist who voted for the men’s Ballon d’Or has come clean about making a ‘mistake’ after his top 10 list was made public — and it didn’t even include the actual top three stars prominently.
Harry Kane won the men’s award for the first time, while Alexia Putellas earned her record-tying third women’s Ballon d’Or at the London Palladium. Although the full votes for both awards are yet to be released, some have been shared online.
Zdravko Reic, a long-time member of France Football’s voting panel and writer for Croatian outlet Sportske Novosti, surprised many by naming Rodri, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi as his top three. Kane was only sixth, and Lamine Yamal, who actually finished third overall, didn’t make Reic’s top 10 at all. Now, Reic admits he got it wrong by not ranking Kane higher.
Reic explained on Sportske Novosti’s Instagram that he based his choices heavily on World Cup performances and apologized for undervaluing Kane. He also noted that some might question why Yamal, who played a smaller role in Spain’s World Cup win, wasn’t on his list, or why Haaland was second because he saw Norway as a surprising team in the tournament.
Here’s Reic’s full top 10 vote, which includes three players from Spain’s World Cup-winning team:
1) Rodri
2) Erling Haaland
3) Lionel Messi
4) Ferran Torres
5) Kylian Mbappe
6) Harry Kane
7) Pau Cubarsi
8) Vitinha
9) Ousmane Dembele
10) Jude Bellingham
Other journalists also shared their top picks. The Chinese voter chose Messi, Rodri, and Dembele for the top three. Italy’s rep went with Mbappe, Rodri, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Colombia’s journalist picked Kane, Rodri, and Mbappe, with Messi fourth, and added Luis Diaz and Willian Pacho in the mix. Pacho was praised as the best defender at PSG, and Julian Quinones from Mexico, ranked 10th, was noted for his World Cup performance.
England’s voter, Henry Winter, hasn’t shared his choices yet.