- Rayan Cherki (23) said the Ballon d’Or was not his immediate obsession despite being viewed by many as a future contender
- Zinédine Zidane called up the Manchester City midfielder for this September training camp and praised both his technical quality and his off-ball contribution
- Cherki started at the Turka Kocaeli Stadyumu during Les Bleus’ 1-0 victory in Turkiye on Friday before being replaced by Eduardo Camavinga (23) in the 78th minute
Ballon d’Or Debate Continues Around Europe’s Elite
The Ballon d’Or conversation has recently dominated the football agenda, with names such as Kylian Mbappé (27), Lamine Yamal (19), Kvicha Kvaratshkelia (25) and Harry Kane (33) all featuring prominently in the discussion. Candidates and contenders have added to the noise with interviews shaped around their cases for the award.
💞🇫🇷 Zinedine Zidane: “I would have loved to play with a player like Rayan Cherki when I was a player!”.
“He finds such incredible passes, and he even knows how to play without the ball…”.
“He’s a baller, a real baller”. pic.twitter.com/pxpmNhkAmA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 28, 2026
Rayan Cherki (23), now at Manchester City and a team-mate of five of the 30 nominees for the 2026 edition, is also regarded by many as a player with the talent to claim the game’s biggest individual prize one day. Yet the Olympique Lyonnais academy graduate has made clear that chasing awards is not currently driving him.
“Do I dream of it? Not right now…,” the Lyon academy graduate told Téléfoot. “I’m a player who loves football. I’m not here to play political games or make calculations. I’m really just here to be myself.”
Cherki’s Manchester City Numbers Strengthen His Profile
Cherki’s first season in England was a productive one, as he recorded 10 goals and 15 assists in 52 matches. His form has continued into the 2026-27 season, with four goals and two assists in eight matches, a level of output that could increase his chances of being discussed more seriously in future Ballon d’Or conversations if sustained.
Zidane’s Praise Highlights More Than Technical Flair
Zinédine Zidane’s appreciation of Cherki will come as little surprise to those familiar with the French great’s playing career. Now the new France manager, Zidane called the Manchester City attacking midfielder into his squad for this September training camp and has already spoken warmly about him.
At a press conference held on the eve of France’s meeting with Belgium, Zidane said he would have enjoyed playing alongside Cherki.
“Yes, well yes (I would have liked to play with him), he’s a proper footballer,” the manager smiled to the journalists, whilst making a point of clarifying that the 23-year-old’s technical ability was not, however, the only thing he appreciated.
“But it’s not just that – everyone knows that. What interests me is what he’s capable of doing without the ball,” he continued. “He’s capable of receiving the ball between the lines; he makes incredible passes. Two or three times, when he plays vertically, it can be immediately effective.”
France Role Adds Another Layer to His Rise
Cherki was selected to start at the Turka Kocaeli Stadyumu in Les Bleus’ 1-0 win in Turkiye on Friday. He delivered a strong display before Eduardo Camavinga (23) came on in his place in the 78th minute.
Between his output at Manchester City, his growing international involvement under Zidane and the wider debate around football’s individual honours, Cherki remains a player of considerable interest. For now, however, his own message is clear: football comes before politics, calculations and campaigning.
