Algerian international Ibrahim Maza, who plays for German club Bayer Leverkusen, finished ninth in the race for the 2026 Best Young Player award. The announcement was made during the Ballon d'Or ceremony held on Monday evening in London. Maza was among 11 nominees competing for the prize, which was ultimately awarded to Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for the third consecutive time. This achievement reflects the recognition of Maza's talent and his ongoing development with his club and his national team. The event took place at the London Palladium to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the award.