Ballon d'Or 2026 predictions: Who will be crowned the world's best footballer?
All eyes will turn to London on Monday evening when the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced. Paris Saint-Germain attacker Ousmanne Dembele took the honours last year with the Frenchman finishing ahead of Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, who was second, and third-placed Vitinha, also of Uefa Champions League winners PSG. The women's prize was claimed by Barcelona's Aitana Bonmati for the third year…
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place at the London Palladium, and fans are eagerly anticipating the announcement of the world's best footballer. Our predictions suggest that Harry Kane, the captain of England's national team and Bayern Munich striker, is the frontrunner for the top honor. Kane's remarkable 61-goal haul in 51 appearances during the 2025-2026 season, coupled with his crucial contributions to England's third-place finish in the FIFA World Cup, make him the clear favorite.
Yamal, a 19-year-old Barcelona forward, is a strong contender for the runner-up position. Despite a pre-tournament injury that limited his impact in North America, Yamal delivered an impressive 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 matches for Barcelona. His performance was instrumental in Spain's World Cup victory, though he only managed to score once during the entire tournament.
Mbappe, a Real Madrid and France striker, is expected to finish in third place for the Ballon d'Or. Despite not winning any trophies for either Real Madrid or France in the 2025-2026 season, Mbappe's exceptional form was undeniable. He netted 42 goals in 44 appearances, earning him the Spanish Golden Boot award for the second consecutive year. Mbappe's incredible goal-scoring record, including becoming the all-time tournament top-scorer with 22 goals in the World Cup, is expected to secure him a spot in the top three.
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