Ballon d'Or 2026 contenders reshaped by World Cup performances

The World Cup has reshuffled the Ballon d'Or race, with Spain's Rodri and Lamine Yamal emerging as top prospects alongside established stars like Messi, Mbappé and Kane.

The 2026 Ballon d'Or race is now heavily influenced by performances at the World Cup, where Spain's triumph elevated midfielder Rodri to the top of the rankings. Rodri's control of the Spanish midfield earned him the Golden Ball, compensating for a slower start to his Manchester City season and positioning him as a strong candidate for a second award. Harry Kane, despite a quieter World Cup, stays the odds-on favorite after netting 61 goals for Bayern Munich and scoring six times for England.

Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old Barcelona winger, impressed with crucial contributions for Spain and a 24-goal, 18-assist league season, making him a serious contender. Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi each added to their legacies with record-breaking World Cup goal totals, yet their club campaigns—Mbappé's trophy-less Real Madrid season and Messi's reduced output at Inter Miami—may limit their chances. Other names such as Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior appear in the top ten but are considered outsiders unless they replicate early-season form.