Fierce Competition in the Ballon d'Or Race After the 2026 World Cup

With the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup, the eyes of the football world have turned to this year's Ballon d'Or award. Alongside performances in the World Cup, club season achievements in the Champions League and domestic leagues will also play a major role in determining the winner of the award. In this context, a few world-renowned stars stand out for the title of the best football player of the year.

The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri and the 2025 champion Ousmane Dembélé stand out as strong candidates. Real Madrid's French star Kylian Mbappé and Bayern Munich's goalscorer Harry Kane are also among the favorites of the race with their tremendous individual statistics. Lionel Messi, 39, who carried Argentina to the final with his unique performance in the World Cup, has come to the fore with the possibility of winning the award for the ninth time.

In addition, talented players such as Lamine Yamal and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also expected to receive votes. However, the main competition currently points to the rivalry between Rodri, Dembélé, Mbappé, Kane, and Messi. The name of the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on 26 October, and the performances displayed in the period from July 2025 to the World Cup final will be taken into account.