Ballon d’Or 2026: 5 Stars Who Could Win Football’s Biggest Individual Award
All eyes are now on football’s most prestigious individual honour, the Ballon d’Or, following the conclusion of the 2025/26 football season and Spain’s 1–0 victory over Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final.
Ferran Torres scored the winning goal in extra time to hand La Roja their second World Cup title at the expense of Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who were appearing in consecutive finals after winning the 2022 edition in Qatar.
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The Ballon d’Or is an annual award presented by France Football to recognise the most outstanding footballer of the year.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or was awarded to Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé following a brilliant 2024/25 campaign in which he helped PSG secure a historic treble comprising the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France titles, alongside a runners-up finish at the FIFA Club World Cup.
The France international was also named the best player in the Champions League and Ligue 1, winning the Golden Boot in the latter competition.
Also Read: Why Messi Deserves To Win Ballon d’Or —Beckham
This year’s award, which will be the 70th edition, is expected to be particularly significant because the period under review includes a FIFA World Cup. Consequently, the eventual winner’s chances will depend not only on club performances but also on displays on football’s grandest international stage.
France Football have drawn up a 30-man shortlist after assessing players’ performances for club and country. The final rankings will be officially unveiled at the awards ceremony, scheduled to take place at the London Palladium in London, England, on Monday, 26 October 2026.
In this piece, Completesports.com’s HABEEB KURANGH profiles five players who could win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich and England)
Kane enjoyed one of the most prolific individual goal-scoring seasons of the 2025/26 campaign, scoring an impressive 73 goals in 63 appearances for club and country. His tally was surpassed only by Lionel Messi’s 82 goals in the 2011/12 season.
Kane scored 61 goals and provided seven assists for Bayern Munich, inspiring them to the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal titles. He also netted 12 times for England, including five goals at the World Cup, where he captained the Three Lions to a third-place finish.
The 33-year-old won the European Golden Shoe, secured the Bundesliga top-scorer award for the third consecutive season and was voted the league’s best player by the Association of German Sports Journalists.
These achievements provide a compelling case for Kane to challenge for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona and Spain)
Yamal has been in the spotlight since making his professional debut in 2023 at the age of 15.
The teenage superstar finished second in last year’s rankings following a remarkable 2024/25 season in which he scored 16 goals and provided 22 assists for Barcelona as they won the domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
Yamal continued where he left off, recording 42 goal contributions — 24 goals and 18 assists — across all competitions for the Blaugrana during the 2025/26 campaign. His performances helped Barcelona secure the La Liga and Spanish Super Cup double.
Also Read: Yamal Is Only Player Who Deserves Ballon d’Or —Ex-Man City Star
Although the 19-year-old suffered a hamstring injury towards the end of the season, he recovered in time for the World Cup and helped Spain lift the trophy, scoring one goal and providing an assist on their way to glory.
His contribution to Barcelona’s domestic success and Spain’s World Cup triumph strengthens his credentials for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid and France)
Mbappé, like Kane, enjoyed a remarkable individual season for club and country in 2025/26, making him one of the contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
The 27-year-old became the only player in football history to win the Golden Boot in the league, Champions League and World Cup during the same season.
He scored 25 goals in La Liga, 15 in the UEFA Champions League and another 10 at the 2026 World Cup. His World Cup tally took him to 22 goals in the competition, breaking the record for the highest number of goals scored by a player in its history.
However, despite his individual achievements, Mbappé fell short of winning silverware with both Real Madrid and France during the period under review.
His prolific scoring record could nevertheless keep him in contention for football’s most prestigious individual award.
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami and Argentina)
Messi was outstanding for both club and country during the season, scoring 45 goals and providing 32 assists for Inter Miami and Argentina.
The Argentine superstar helped Inter Miami win their first-ever MLS championship in 2025, before adding the 2026 Campeones Cup to the Florida-based club’s honours.
Messi came close to inspiring Argentina to another World Cup triumph, but La Albiceleste lost to Spain in the final, having won the tournament four years earlier in Qatar.
He scored eight goals and provided four assists at the World Cup.
Messi is also expected to make a farewell appearance for Argentina when they face Benin Republic in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Despite Argentina’s defeat in the final, Messi’s individual contribution to the tournament could strengthen his case for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Rodri (Barcelona and Spain)
Rodri endured a difficult 2025/26 campaign at Manchester City, making just 29 appearances after being troubled by injuries and fitness concerns for much of the season.
However, the midfielder, now at Barcelona according to the article’s stated club details, delivered an outstanding performance at the World Cup. He started every match and helped Spain win the trophy, earning the tournament’s best-player award in the process.
Rodri also won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup with Manchester City as they finished second behind Arsenal in the Premier League.
His influence on Spain’s World Cup triumph could prove significant in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, although his limited club appearances may count against him.
Other Likely Ballon d’Or 2026 Candidates
Notable omissions from the top five include Michael Olise, who enjoyed a remarkable season with Bayern Munich and France; Fabián Ruiz, who helped Paris Saint-Germain win the Ligue 1 and Champions League double while playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup success; and Ousmane Dembélé, who was instrumental for PSG and France.
What Could Decide the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
This year’s Ballon d’Or race is likely to generate considerable debate, as previous editions have done. However, the eventual winner will need to make a strong case based on the award’s three main criteria: individual performances and decisive contributions; collective performances and titles won with club and national teams; plus class and fair play.
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