Now that the 2025/26 football season has ended with the conclusion of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, attention has turned to the race for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Several football stars have put themselves in contention, but Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal are currently leading the conversation. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri and reigning holder Ousmane Dembélé are also considered strong candidates based on their performances for club and country.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London on October 26, where a new winner will be crowned unless Dembélé successfully retains the award he won last year. Messi remains the most successful player in the award’s history with eight titles, while Cristiano Ronaldo has won it five times.
Each contender has built a different case. Kane has enjoyed another prolific season in front of goal and delivered consistently for his club. Yamal, on the other hand, enhanced his chances by helping Spain lift the World Cup, making him one of the biggest favourites.
Messi and Mbappé also boosted their credentials with impressive displays during the tournament. Rodri and Dembélé have remained part of the discussion thanks to their influence and achievements throughout the season.
Football legends and analysts have already begun sharing their opinions on who deserves the award.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes Kane has done enough to claim the prize.
“Based on the past 12 months, Kane should win the Ballon d’Or,” Carragher said.
He, however, admitted that World Cup success often influences voting, which could work in favour of players from Spain.
Rodri previously tipped his Spain teammate Lamine Yamal as a future Ballon d’Or winner, and Spain’s World Cup triumph has only strengthened that prediction.
Former France defender William Gallas also believes Yamal deserves to be ahead of Kane, arguing that winning the World Cup carries more weight than individual goal-scoring records.
Another former France international, Bacary Sagna, praised Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, describing him as an “artist on the pitch.” Sagna suggested Olise could have become a serious Ballon d’Or challenger if Bayern had lifted the Champions League trophy.
Across major sports media, Kane and Yamal have emerged as the two leading names. Kane’s outstanding scoring record has been widely praised, while Yamal’s combination of club success and World Cup glory has made him equally convincing.
Mbappé has also attracted strong backing. A poll by French newspaper L’Équipe placed the Real Madrid forward ahead of the other contenders after his brilliant World Cup campaign, where he finished as the tournament’s highest scorer with 10 goals.
Messi has also re-entered the Ballon d’Or conversation after inspiring Argentina to the World Cup final with eight goals and four assists. Several analysts believe his performances have put him back among the favourites.
Meanwhile, defending champion Dembélé remains firmly in the race after another impressive campaign and is still viewed by many as a genuine contender to retain the award.
With Kane’s goals, Yamal’s World Cup success, Mbappé’s scoring exploits, Messi’s brilliance and the consistency of players like Rodri and Dembélé, the battle for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is shaping up to be one of the closest in recent memory.
