No certainty that Messi will pick up the 2026 Ballon d’Or award in October, especially after this World Cup, which has seen Messi create masterclass after masterclass. The top contenders would have seen the World Cup as their opportunity to stand out and claim the prize. While some performers have stood out, others have been quiet.
Top Five Contenders
After a prolific season with Bayern Munich, Harry Kane is probably the favourite for the award. The striker scored 61 goals for Bayern and six goals for England during the World Cup. There is also Kylian Mbappe, who netted 42 times for Madrid. Lionel Messi, playing for Inter Miami, was never expected to be in the conversation, but back-to-back World Cup finals and eight goals. What can you say?
Lamine Yamal scored 24 goals and won La Liga with Barcelona and is only 19 years of age. He also has the chance to lift the World Cup with Spain. Rodri is back after winning it in 2024. He plays the central role for Spain and is a master at controlling a game. He could pick up a World Cup after lifting the European Championship trophy two years ago.
