‎Who will win the 2026 Ballon D'or?

[yixichloro2xx]

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‎Date: October 26, 2026
‎Location: London, England
‎Edition: 70th anniversary ceremony (first time hosted in London)
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‎Hello guys ,now that a new season is starting and also the Ballon d'or award is also coming up, I decided to share my top 5 candidates for this year’s award.
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‎I will be providing  their individual statistic, award and achievements for both clubs and National team.
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‎These are my personal picks, and I would love to hear your own opinions and rankings as well.
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‎CANDIDATES

‎-Harry kane (Bayern Munich/England) FW

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‎Major Season stats (2025-2026) + world  cup
‎ 1. Goals -- 69 goals
‎ 2. Assist --- 8 Assists
‎ 3. Goals contributions --77 goals      contributions
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‎ Major  Trophies/awards
1. ‎Bundesliga 🏆
2. ‎DFL-supercup🏆
3. ‎FIFA world cup Bronze medal (3rd place) 🥉
4. ‎European Golden boot
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‎-Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain) FW

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‎Major Season stats (2025-2026) + world cup
‎ 1. Goals -- 25 goals
‎ 2. Assist ---  17 Assists
‎ 3. Goals contributions -- 42 goals contributions
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‎ Major  Trophies/awards
‎  1. Laliga trophy 🏆
‎  2. Spanish super cup  🏆
‎  3. FIFA world cup Champion 🏆
‎  4. La liga player of the season
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‎-kylian Mbappe  (Real Madrid/France) FW

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‎Major Season stats (2025-2026) + world cup
‎  1. Goals -- 54 goals
‎  2. Assist --- 11 Assists
‎  3. Goals contributions --65 goals  contributions
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‎ Major  Trophies/awards
‎  1. La liga top scorer award Pichichi
‎   2. UEFA Champions Golden boot
‎   3. FIFA world cup Golden boot
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‎-Osumane Dembele (PSG/France) FW

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‎Major Season stats (2025-2026) + world cup
‎  1. Goals -- 25 goals
‎   2. Assist --- 15 Assists
‎   3. Goals contributions -- 40 goal       contributions
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‎ Major  Trophies/awards
‎   1. Ligue 1🏆
‎   2. UEFA champions league 🏆
‎   3.  UEFA super cup 🏆
‎   4.  FIFA intercontinental champions 🏆
   5. ‎ Ligue 1 player of the season
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‎-Rodri (Manchester city/Spain) DMF

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‎Major Season stats (2025-2026) + world cup
‎ 1. Goals -- 2 goals
‎ 2. Assist --- 1  Assists
‎ 3. Goals contributions --3 goal       contributions
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‎ Major  Trophies/awards
‎1. FA cup winner 🏆
‎2. EFL cup winner 🏆
‎3. FIFA world cup winner 🏆
‎4. FIFA world cup golden ball (best player of the tournament)
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‎Drop your opinions 👇👇

[blomen]

the cup winners, rodri and yamal, didn’t rack up many stats during the season. on the other hand, mbappé and kane’s stats were at a very high level; both scored plenty of goals and performed exceptionally well, but they didn’t even make it to the world cup final.

i think it’s debatable who should win this season, but my top pick is harry kane. even though his team lost in the world cup semifinals and finished third, i believe he was the most impactful player of the season.

[Dunamisx]

I remember the last Ballon D'or also sparking debate among football communities and fans, just as you have mentioned, there are qualified players for this title but it is a pity that they couldn't made it to the world Cup or final, while the players qualified for the world Cup final and won may not have enough statistics that may be required in choosing them being the most qualified players, I don't know if Lamine Yamal will be included among the list aside mbappé and Kane.

[Swordsoffreedom]

good list,

But I think only adding goals & trophies will not complete the discussion when ranking Ballon d'Or.
Context is very important in this case.

I know Harry Kane's season must have been fantastic.
69 goal is really incredible achievement. But to get Ballon d'Or, players Champions League and biggest moment will have a lot of influence.
If a player shows less impact in important knockout matches, then the winner cannot be determined by league stats alone.

In case of Lamine Yamal, I think his biggest argument is World Cup success. Also, extraordinary influence for his age. But while 25 goal and 17 assist is great for a winger but there is a gap if we compared him with Kane or Mbappe.

I would put Mbappe in first place. 54 goal, Pichichi, Champions League Golden Boot and World Cup Golden Boot, his individual number is stronger than other. As I said,  Ballon d'Or will go to player who has achieved the most on  biggest stage

So, my personal ranking is:
1. Mbappe
2. Kane
3. Yamal
4. Rodri
5. Dembele

[rdluffy]

This year, I'm really torn between the options
I don't think any one player has a clear advantage over the others

Some newspapers are also including Vini Jr. and Messi, but I'm not sure if those two are really that big of favorites

If I had to take a guess right now, my best bet would be Harry Kane, based on his performance for both his club and national team

[Porfirii]

Yes, the truth is that this year it is complicated because, as you say, those who had a better performance during the season have not shone too much in the World Cup, and vice versa. On the one hand, if we opt for Lamine or Pedri, in Lamine's case after a good season he did not get a good result during the World Cup, and in the case of Pedri the other way around, for many there are doubts that a great World Cup will compensate for a not so excellent season.

As per Mbappé, Kane and Dembélé, any of the three, but perhaps especially Mbappé, would deserve it for their efforts throughout the year, but their performance in the World Cup, and even some bad gestures from some in defeat, would not make them worthy of the title IMO.

[AprilioMP]

Kane deserves the Ballon d'Or because his contributions to both club and England are impressive. Kylan Mbappé is also on par with Kane, and even surpasses him in statistics. In La Liga, Mbappé is the top scorer with 25 goals, and he also top-scored with the French national team at the World Cup.

Between Yamal and Rodri, Rodri is the more deserving Ballon d'Or because during the World Cup, Rodri played a crucial role in the Spanish national team's success in winning the World Cup for the first time since 2010.
In my opinion, the two names that will top the vote count are Kylan Mbappé and Kane. Rodri will likely finish third.

[shinratensei_]

I'd stick to this ranking. It's because there are strong reasons behind it. Mbappe who got three golden boots in the same season has to be the number one consider D'or is a personal award. Yamal must be in the 2nd place consider he gets three trophies in the same season.
However, a bit disagree to put Kane at the top three because most of his goals were in the farmer league.  

So i feel D'or will be winning by Mbappe or Yamal. That's it. I don't see kane win this and it makes no sense if he wins it. Even i'd rather put Dembele or Rodri above him.

[DanWalker]

But their performance in the World Cup, and even some bad gestures from some in defeat, would not make them worthy of the title IMO.

I just don't give too much importance to World Cup. I will not completely ignore it again.
If Ballon d'Or is a prize for individual performance throughout the year then surely an 8-10 match tournament should not overshadow a 50-60 match club season, right?
At the same time, performing under highest pressure does deserve extra credit.

Another thing is, you are right we always give more importance to the last impression. Because World Cup comes near the end of voting period, so its result naturally stick in our mind more than what happened months earlier. So when we go to evaluate Mbappe, Kane or Dembele, emotions enter us.

To me, whole year's contribution cannot be measured by just one tournament or one bad gesture. So fairest approach is to balance whole year's consistency, impact on major matches, performance against tough opposition and overall influence throughout year.

[Bigjoe33]

However, a bit disagree to put Kane at the top three because most of his goals were in the farmer league.  

So i feel D'or will be winning by Mbappe or Yamal. That's it. I don't see kane win this and it makes no sense if he wins it. Even i'd rather put Dembele or Rodri above him.

You refer to the German Bundesliga as a farmers league? Anyways, it's your thoughts, as I think every league is at its top now and now league can be regarded less. After all, Beyern Munich is regarded as one of the biggest clubs in Europe, so, for a player to be outstanding there, scoring plenty of goals and also been very important to his country as the just concluded world cup, and you refer him as a less player and coming from the farmers league is been bias judgementaly is you ask me.

Mbappe and Yamal are great players, both Dembele too and the likes, but you can't count them all and exclude Harry Kane. He is too good and plays an important role for his club and country. Am sure many of those clubs in Spain will be happy to have him with them. If we go by stats for the 2025-2026 season, then Kane is qualified too to be at the top three, we can't deprive him that. But then, the award isn't just given by one man, let's see who wins it as the end

[DubemIfedigbo001]

i think it’s debatable who should win this season, but my top pick is harry kane. even though his team lost in the world cup semifinals and finished third, i believe he was the most impactful player of the season.

I share the same thoughts as you, Kane should have it, he was very spectacular last season and was a major contributor to both club and country. He got bronze at least in the world cup and that is a fairly good stat.

It should've been undoubtedly Rodri, but his injury recovery last season saw him loose a lot of form and didn't have a really great 2025/2026 season in his club, glad he's gotten back to form and can continue his exploits this new season.

[tiCeR]

Yes, the truth is that this year it is complicated because, as you say, those who had a better performance during the season have not shone too much in the World Cup, and vice versa. On the one hand, if we opt for Lamine or Pedri, in Lamine's case after a good season he did not get a good result during the World Cup, and in the case of Pedri the other way around, for many there are doubts that a great World Cup will compensate for a not so excellent season.

As per Mbappé, Kane and Dembélé, any of the three, but perhaps especially Mbappé, would deserve it for their efforts throughout the year, but their performance in the World Cup, and even some bad gestures from some in defeat, would not make them worthy of the title IMO.

This always stirs the discussion about what the Ballon D'or award really is. How much should team achievements be taken into account and how much the individual player achievemens? Everyone knows that it is also a lot about the strength of the lobby backing you, fans and friends around the world. I think that is what most mostly complained about when Ronaldo or Messi got the Ballon D'or in years when other would have possibly deserved it at least as much.

I think Mbappé should definitely be top three, Yamal didn't shine at the World Cup, but he is above almost everyone else with respect to his skill level and still the impact he has because defenders are so busy concentrating on stopping Yamal that all the other players are given more freedom whenever Yamal has the ball. But I understand when statistics are taken into account especially for offensive players.

Rodri has many hidden skills that aren't noticed by too many people I think. He is more of a reader of the match, a perfect director for his team. He passes the ball when it should be passed, he just keeps the ball when it should be kept. His goal contributions are low, but contributions is not what this kind of player is made for. It is more of a bonus on top of everyone else he is providing his team with.

Kane wouldn't be a wrong choice, great player and great person and a role model.

So many considerations play into this. What should a jury do if both deserve it equally and one player is 32 and the other is 19? Should age be considered because the player at 32 may not get another chance?

My picks are Kane, Mbappé and Dembélé.

[Supreme Donvic]

Dembele or mbappe may win the ballon d'Or, these two people are the most deserving to win the ballon d'Or, I know that mbappé has not won any trophy but he is highest goal scorer in la Liga, champions League and also the world cup for that kind of achievement he deserve to win the ballon d'Or it is not an easy achievement and on the other hand dembele has won the champions League an also their league title and he did very well also in the world cup so he also deserve the ballon d'Or but for me the person that deserve it more is mbappé.

[MAAManda]

All the candidates on your list are indeed worthy. However, I would like to elaborate on something related to gambling here.

Image Source: Oddschecker

Based on data from Oddschecker, people are confident about the five names leading the list of potential award winners, those names are Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe & Declan Rice. Honestly, I’m baffled as to why people still have faith in Lionel Messi & Declan Rice, I don't think either of them is actually worth including in a betting selection. As for my personal choice, I believe that Lamine Yamal is the one who deserves the Ballon d'Or award.

[Agbamoni]

The FIFA Ballon d'Or award ranking has always been about individual brilliance, achievement, and honors. Despite Mbappe not being able to win a major trophy last season, he is the most exceptional player in the FIFA award ranking and won the most individual honors as well as the best performance in all the competitions he participated in.

Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane are also ones to look out for in the 2026 Ballon d'Or award. Their goal contributions for a single season are incredible especially that of Harry.

[HustleZ]

[..]

Stats wise i think Mbappe and Kane are the two favorites as both of them performed really well in the worldcup and have fabulous individual performances, but both of them haven’t done much in club football whereas dembele has performed well in WC as well in the Champions league and have won it too. I dont know who could it be but i will be happy to see kane win at this ending stages of his career, Mbappe’s first could also have a place in my heart but i will root for kane

[Mayor of ogba]

According to UEFA winning the World Cup isn't a yardstick for a player to win the Balloon D'or award that a player must be the best across the competitions he played in a season, which also means a player who doesn't win a trophy can win the Balloon D'or award. So, from the five players you nominated as the favourites for this year's Balloon D'or award according to your opinion, I think Kylian Mbappé is in the best place to win the 2026 Balloon D'or award because he finished as La Liga, Champions League, and World Cup top scorers, and he is the first player in the history of football to have such an achievement.

[Dunamisx]

This is getting more interesting now, because all the five list mentioned here have all it takes to deserve taking the Ballon D'or, but of course they will definitely be only one winner, now as we speak we don't know us to what criteria will the final decision be taken upon in choosing who deserve it, it will be so interesting to know who is going to be the winner and we should not be surprised at the same time if the winner turned to be the second or down to the fifth on the list.

[Lucius]

No Cristiano Ronaldo? In that case, let them give the ball to Messi, so that no new riots break out in Argentina

Look, whoever wins an award, there will always be those who think someone else should have won it. Do you remember 2018 when Luka Modric won the Ballon d'Or? It's not like most people were happy that the winner was someone who wasn't from a big country - even though Croatia played in the World Cup final that year.

[Sammye3]

Harry Kane and Kylian Mabappe are my top contenders for the Ballon D'or. Both of them had an excellent performance in their respective club and countries as well. Harry Kane has being robbed off the Ballon D'or once so its only natural that he takes a chance at it this time because he has always being consistent with his performance every single season and has shown what hardwork looks like.

Harry Kane: 65 G/A in all competition last season.
Kylian Mbappe: 60 G/A in all competition last season.

Does anyone still think that these two should not be leading the Ballon D'or pool even after an extraordinary World Cup performance.