‎Who will win the 2026 Ballon D'or?

[MiF]

Both.

They never give it to players whose teams didn't win anything, no matter how good one's performance was.

However, the reward receiver must be one of those who played a significant part in the team's success.

They tend to be strikers but not necessarily so. As you may remember Virgil van Dijk was #2 in the voting just after Messi in 2019 for helping Liverpool winning the UCL and he's a central defender.

He definitely was the best central defender of the world in that season but he would have never been voted so high in it if Liverpool didn't win the UCL.

I understand that, but still the end of the day the individual performance should mean more than the team performance, I'm not saying to give it to a player whose team didn't win anything big but in a situation where two teams with candidates for the Ballon d'Or get to win good trophies the individual performance should be what decides who win the Ballon d'Or and right now Kane is the most likely to win it as far as I'm concerned.

that team trophies are important. But not be the sole reason. Two major trophies awarded, both candidates have made a good contribution. If individual performance is used, it should differentiate them. Consistency and big-game performances, goals and assists, and overall influence should be given a greater weight. Van Dijk's Champions League win last year was an example of just how much a win can help a player's cause, even for a defender. But Kane's output and effect so far is a solid case made for him. It's worth noting that it could be someone else for the rest of the season.

[New Judgement]

Goals isn't the only criteria for a player to win the Ballon d'or. Normally players like  Harry kane and Kylian are expected to score more goals than wingers or midfielders. If you Watch Barcelona last season, Lamine Yamal has the highest chance creation in his team and probably in La liga, because that's what his  role is as winger. Because of that he was able to win the best player of the season over Kylian Mbappe, even though mbappe scored more goals. In the Bundesliga too, the Player of the season was also given to Olise , even though Harry Kane scored over 40 goals. This is why I feel this Ballon d'or will be tight and it's between Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane. Another player that I believe would win it, is Rodri due to being the best player in the FIFA world cup tournament, but is still don't think that will increase his chances of winning, he didn't give the type of Performance Messi gave in 2022 WC and also 2026 WC. But everything is in the hands of the Journalists, they are the one who decides the Winner.

You made some valid points regarding who will lift the Ballon d’Or, some people think that the moment you have scored lots of goals in a season that automatically you will win the Ballon d’Or but that’s a big lie. Harry Kane couldn’t win the best player of the league he plays his club football last season, and that will be against him during the voting. This year Ballon d’Or winner will come from the nation that won the FIFA World Cup, and that will be between Rodri and Lamin Yamal.

If Spain didn’t have players in contention of the Ballon d’Or it would have been different. Erling Haaland lost the 2023 to Messi because of the World Cup consideration. Haaland had the best season of his career in the premier league, yet he lost it. So anyone counting on Harry Kane goals alone to get him the Ballon d’Or is making a mistake because it won’t happen. Lamin Yamal or Rodri will be the eventual winner.