Thirty players are on the shortlist for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, but who’s actually in contention for the award?
Who will win the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or? Well, we don’t have to wait much longer to find out.
The ceremony will take place on Monday, crowning one player as the best in the world based on their performances between 3 August 2025 and 19 July 2026.
The shortlist for the men’s award stands at 30 strong and includes three former winners: Lionel Messi (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023).
But some have far more realistic chances of winning this year’s prize than others. Ahead of Monday’s ceremony, it would seem there are four clear frontrunners; here, we assess their respective chances.
Harry KaneBayern Munich and England
It may not count for much given Vinícius Júnior was hotly tipped before losing out to Rodri in the 2024 Ballon d’Or, but ahead of Monday’s ceremony, Lamine Yamal enjoyed an excellent 2025-26 season at club level with Barcelona. But, like Kane, he didn’t win the Champions League.
For some voters, the very fact Yamal was in the World Cup-winning Spain side will have been enough to earn points. For others, though, the question being asked will be how critical was his contribution to Spain’s glory?
Obviously it’s pretty difficult to work this out definitively; an attacker may not record many goals or assists but their input could have still been vital for many goals. But people will, most of the time, be led by the topline numbers.
With that in mind, Yamal’s output in attack at the World Cup saw him tally just a single goal involvement in eight games, scoring the opener in Spain’s 4-0 Matchday 2 win over Saudi Arabia.
At club level, however, it was a completely different story.
Despite only turning 19 in July, Yamal was one of the most impressive attacking players across Europe during the 2025-26 club campaign.
He was involved in 41 goals in all competitions for Barcelona last season (24 goals, 17 assists), a frankly astonishing feat for a player who was 18 at the time. Messi didn’t top that for the first time until the 2008-09 campaign, by which time he was 21.
Yamal’s total of 41 goal involvements was also 19 more than any other player while under the age of 20 for a club from the top five European leagues across (Yan Diomande – 22) during 2025-26.
Similarly, no La Liga player assisted more goals (17) or created more chances (118) in all competitions than Yamal, and he led all players from Europe’s big five leagues for open-play chances created (107 in all comps).
We may not have seen the very best of Yamal’s individual talents at the World Cup, but his contribution to La Roja’s success shouldn’t be dismissed just because he didn’t provide an endless route to goal.
He was part of a successful team and also produced almost countless moments of quality for Barcelona.
Maybe he doesn’t win the Ballon d’Or this year, but he’s surely destined to claim it one day.
Kylian MbappéReal Madrid and France
There was a time during this summer’s World Cup when France were threatening to make
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