Champions League kicks off amid Ballon d’Or buzz

The new Champions League campaign is under way, and the first night felt like a fireworks display. Real Madrid and Manchester City both took early victories, while Paris Saint‑Germain rolled onto the pitch as two‑time defending champions, ready to face Slovan Bratislava.

It isn’t just club glory on everyone’s mind. The individual prize that looms over every performance – the 2026 Ballon d’Or – is already generating chatter. England’s captain Harry Kane, now a prolific striker for Bayern Munich, has been described by former England forward Andy Cole as having his "hat in the ring". Yet Cole is quick to add that nothing is guaranteed; the competition includes heavy‑hitters like Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Spain’s Rodri and France’s Kylian Mbappé.

Speaking to the press, Mbappé hinted that this could finally be his year to lift the golden trophy. "It’s a good year for this," he smiled, though he knows the road ahead is anything but smooth. Meanwhile, PSG’s Ousmane Dembele has made a bold claim that the Ballon d’Or will stay in Paris, a statement that sparked a flurry of debate across social media.

Other storylines are weaving themselves into the tapestry of the opening weekend. Aston Villa captain Jacob McGinn opened the scoring tally for the season, while Erling Haaland finally broke through against Porto’s Diogo Costa. In the midfield, Napoli is coping with the loss of Scott McTominay and André‑Frank Zambo Anguissa ahead of their clash with Arsenal.

Off the pitch, UEFA announced a moment of silence before all fixtures to honour the victims of the recent Nepal floods, a solemn reminder that football, for all its drama, is still part of a larger world.

All eyes will be on the forthcoming ties – will Kane’s Bayern side finally clinch the Ballon d’Or, or will Mbappé’s relentless pace finally earn him the long‑awaited accolade? Only time will tell, but for now the season feels electric, and the conversation is already buzzing.