Soccer’s highest individual prize, the Ballon d’Or, is decided by more than just goals and assists, weighing team success and character alongside performance. Ousmane Dembélé captured the 2025 award ahead of Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, and the 2026 edition is already shaping up to be another tight battle.
With 2026 being a World Cup year, performances on soccer’s biggest stage will go a long way in determining the next Golden Ball winner. With countries like Spain, France, and England from Europe expected to make deep runs in the FIFA World Cup, a UEFA Champions League and World Cup double for any star player might just put them in pole position for the top spot.
Without further ado, let us take a look at the top five favorites to win the Ballon d’Or award next year:
#5 Declan Rice – Arsenal and England
Arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League at the moment, Declan Rice has been pivotal to Arsenal’s great start this season. A complete midfielder capable of breaking up opposition attacks and playing defense-splitting passes, Rice is virtually undroppable for both club and country. It is one of the first names on the team sheet.
Another positive aspect working in Rice’s favor is that Arsenal have had a strong start to the season and look set to challenge for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League titles. With the Three Lions also expected to do well at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Rice could well become the first English Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen, who won it in 2001.
#4 Lamine Yamal – Barcelona and Spain
Finishing in second position in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, the 18-year-old Barcelona prodigy is once again among the favorites to win the coveted individual prize.
A supremely talented winger and already the biggest name on the teamsheet for both club and country, Yamal will be hoping to put some recent fitness concerns aside and have a successful and trophy-laden season for Barcelona.
With 13 goal contributions (six goals and seven assists) in 13 La Liga appearances so far, the talented youngster has continued where he left off from last season. The Catalan side is currently leading the league standings, and Yamal will be hoping to continue his strong form for the next six months.
Kylian Mbappe cemented his legacy and superstardom with a stunning performance in the 2018 World Cup. Yamal will be hoping to have a similar impact for Spain in 2026 and go one better in the Ballon d’Or rankings next season.
#3 Erling Haaland – Manchester City and Norway
Erling Haaland has been in supreme form for both Manchester City and Norway this season. Comfortably leading the Premier League Golden Boot race with 17 goals in just 16 games, Haaland has taken his game to new heights and become a more well-rounded player in the last 6 months.
The Norwegian also played a starring role for his country in the FIFA World Cup qualification matches, scoring a frankly astonishing 16 goals in 8 games. The Lions had a perfect qualifying campaign with all eight games won, and Haaland was undoubtedly the superstar of his side.
One of the best finishers and strikers of this generation, the 25-year-old Manchester City superstar will be looking to add the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot to his long list of individual and collective accolades in the summer.
Also read: Ranking The Top 5 Favorites To Win The 2026 FIFA World Cup
#2 Harry Kane – Bayern Munich and England
Bayern Munich is one of the strongest teams in Europe, and the man leading the line and scoring all the goals for them is England superstar Harry Kane. The 32-year-old striker has been in frightening form this season, scoring an incredible 18 goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances.
A league title almost seems guaranteed this season. If Bayern Munich and Kane continue their brilliant form, a UEFA Champions League title might also be added at the end of the campaign.
Captain of the England team and one of the favorites to win the Golden Boot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (just like Haaland and Mbappe), Kane, who finished at the number 13 spot in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, will be confident of finishing much higher on the list in 2026.
#1 Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid and France
Already one of the greatest players of this generation, 26-year-old Mbappe is having a standout campaign for Real Madrid this season. The current leader in the Golden Boot race for both La Liga (17 goals) and the UEFA Champions League (nine goals), he is undoubtedly the crown jewel of Madrid’s star-studded crown.
Los Blancos have struggled a bit under Xabi Alonso this season, but the Frenchman himself seems to have taken his game to new heights in the last few months and has been in stunning form for the Spanish side.
With Madrid still in with more than a fair shout of winning both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, and France being one of the strongest teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mbappe could finally get his hands on the elusive Ballon d’Or title in 2026.
