2026 Ballon d’Or: Top 5 favourites ahead of shortlist

The Ballon d'Or organisers will reveal their official 30-man shortlist for the 2026 award soon, and anticipation is building about the players who will make the cut. The 2025/26 season concluded with the FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, potentially creating one of the most fiercely contested voting races in the award's history. The jury, composed of the top 100 FIFA-ranked international journalists, will evaluate extraordinary individual performances alongside team successes.

As of now, Lionel Messi ranks fifth among the frontrunners. The 39-year-old Argentina captain scored eight goals during the World Cup campaign, which the team ultimately lost to Spain in the final. His domestic performances in Major League Soccer (MLS) alone would not qualify him for the consideration.

Kylian Mbappé, at 27, stands second on the list despite never having won a Ballon d'Or trophy. However, his chances appear promising this time, having won the Golden Boot at the World Cup. The Frenchman is now the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history, with 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid, though the club did not secure any major titles that season.

Third on the list is Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old Barcelona and Spain winger. He could potentially win his first Ballon d'Or award this year. Yamal made history by becoming the youngest player to feature in and win both a European Championship and a World Cup final. In addition to his impressive goal tally of 24 and 18 assists for Barcelona, which secured another LaLiga title, he contributed significantly to Spain's historic third-place finish in North America.

Taking the second position is Harry Kane, who enters the voting process as a leading favorite. Kane's 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich led the club to a domestic league and cup double, and he earned the European Golden Shoe. Although England did not win the World Cup in North America, Kane's six goals during their run to third place in the tournament played a crucial role in their success.