The List of Nominees is coming soon
The list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is scheduled to be announced on the 8th of September on the Ballon d’Or’s official website. This is leading to a growing discussion on the possible winner and the main contenders for the trophy in the context of the season gone by and the recently held FIFA World Cup.
Diving straight into the discussion, we can have a quick look at the Top 5 contenders, in my opinion.
1. Harry Kane ( Bayern Munich & England)
Harry Kane had an incredible last season. Winning the Bundesliga on a canter, scoring a hat trick of Golden Boots and also winning the European Golden Shoe, Kane has been the most prolific goal scorer in all of Europe, finding the net 64 times in 56 games last season for his club. His World Cup performance wasn’t bad either, steering his team to the semifinals.
2. Lamine Yamal ( Barcelona & Spain)
It has been a season to remember for this teenage sensation from Spain. His artistry with the ball has captured the imagination of the world. His presence on the field is sublime, and his ability to defend, create opportunities, and score goals is seriously baffling. With the La Liga Title and the World Cup Championship to boot, Lamine Yamal has emerged as a very strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.
3. Kylian Mbappe ( Real Madrid & France)
Kylian Mbappe had a terrific World Cup, scoring 10 goals in the entire tournament. His stellar performance earned him the tournament’s Golden Boot, making him the first player since Gerd Müller in 1970 to reach double figures in a single World Cup. It also propelled him to a record-breaking 22 career World Cup goals, overtaking Lionel Messi and Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading men’s goalscorer in World Cup history. Though Real Madrid did not have a great last season, going trophyless, he still remains a strong contender for the coveted trophy.
4. Rodri ( Manchester City & Spain)
Rodri, the midfield maestro, continued to capture the attention of fans and critics alike with his splendid performance for Manchester City in the EPL, then helped Spain win their second FIFA World Cup, beating France and Argentina in the process. Rodri was brilliant as usual and won the Golden Ball award. He is going to be tough to beat for the Ballon d’Or.
5. Ousmane Dembele ( PSG & France)
The holder of the Ballon d’Or is once again a very strong contender, with PSG successfully defending their Ligue 1 title and also winning the UEFA Champions League back-to-back. The European performance puts Dembele in a strong position to defend his Ballon d’Or crown. His World Cup performance was also very impressive, with 6 goals, including a sensational hat-trick against Norway in the group stages.
May the best man win.