Ballon d'Or: Ibrahim Maza in the running!

Ibrahim Maza continues to advance at an impressive pace. The Algerian attacking midfielder, who made a name for himself with Bayer Leverkusen and experienced his first World Cup with the Fennecs, is now seeing his progress rewarded on the international stage.

At just 20 years old, Ibrahim Maza ranks among the top ten contenders for the 2026 Men's Young Talent of the Year award, a distinction linked to the Ballon d'Or. The Algerian faces several top prospects in world football, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Éli Junior Kroupi.

This nomination reflects a particularly promising first season with Bayer Leverkusen. Arriving in the summer of 2025 from Hertha Berlin, Maza quickly established himself in the German squad. In the Bundesliga, he participated in 28 matches, including 20 as a starter, scoring three goals and providing four assists. He also scored twice in the DFB-Pokal and provided two assists in the Champions League.

His consistency has even been recognized by his own supporters: Maza was named Bayer Leverkusen's Player of the Season for 2025/2026, a testament to the impact he has made despite his young age.

But it is especially with Algeria that his year has taken on a new dimension. A starter in all four of the Fennecs' matches at the 2026 World Cup, Maza notably played for 81 minutes against Argentina, before playing the full matches against Jordan, Austria, and Switzerland.

Although the team was eliminated in the Round of 16 by Switzerland, this World Cup allowed Maza to compete against the best and attract even more attention. His nomination among the ten young talents of the year thus confirms one thing: the young Algerian has undeniably established himself among the great hopes of his generation.

Nominated for the 2026 Men's Young Talent of the Year ⬇️

Kerim Alajbegović
Ayyoub Bouaddi
Pau Cubarsí
Yan Diomandé
Lennart Karl
Éli Junior Kroupi
Lamine Yamal
Johan Manzambi
Ibrahim Maza
Warren Zaïre-Emery #ballondor pic.twitter.com/pQCe6SwtRZ

— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026

DZfoot