Way-Too-Early Predictions for the 2026 Men's Ballon d'Or Award
Ousmane Dembélé is the best footballer in the world.
The Frenchman picked up the 2025 Ballon d'Or award at a star-studded ceremony in Paris on Monday.
The 28-year-old had a remarkable season, finally fulfilling the potential he had promised since breaking through at Rennes a decade ago.
He was named the Champions League Player of the Season following Paris Saint-Germain's title-winning campaign, scoring eight goals and providing five assists in 15 games—including two helpers in the final against Internazionale.
But his influence on Les Parisiens didn't stop there. He was instrumental in league play, scoring 21 goals and adding eight assists as PSG lifted a 13th Ligue 1 trophy.
He also notched the winning goal in the Trophee des Champions matchup against Monaco, and he played a part in four goals as his side marched to the Coupe de France title.
Safe to say, it was a pretty good season from the former Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona forward.
Following Dembélé in the voting was Lamine Yamal in second place and PSG teammate Vitinha in third. They will be among the players looking to claim the top prize next year.
But who else could stake a claim to be named the world's finest soccer player in 2026? The confetti has barely settled following the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, but that doesn't mean we can't look ahead to next year's award.
Here are the likely contenders to pick up the biggest individual honor in the sport the next time it's up for grabs, as well as a way-too-early prediction for the winner.
Don't Forget About the GOATs
1 of 5
The age of the GOATs, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is coming to an end.
The pair of legends sit in first and second place in the list of all-time Ballon d'Or awards, with the Argentinian claiming it eight times and the Portuguese grabbing five.
While their respective moves outside of European club football appeared to put an end to their chances of ever winning the Ballon d'Or again, there is an outside possibility that one of them could pick up the top individual award again, thanks to one crucial factor: the 2026 World Cup.
Messi won the award in 2023 primarily for guiding Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. Granted, he was still playing at a high level during the 2022-23 campaign with PSG (although he was an Inter Miami player when he received the award), but it's hard to argue that the huge prize didn't make all the difference.
If Messi can repeat the trick again, he'll surely be in contention. But if Cristiano Ronaldo can inspire Portugal to the first World Cup title in the country's history after turning 41 years old, he could become the second-oldest person to lift the golden orb after Sir Stanley Matthews grabbed the inaugural award in 1956 at 41 years and 10 months old.
Club football does play a huge part in the voting, and Messi and Ronaldo won't get much credit for playing in the MLS and the Saudi Pro League, respectively, but they do have one last chance to add to their impressive Ballon d'Or tallies.
Wild-Card Possibilities
2 of 5
The Ballon d'Or was once awarded for achievements over the course of a calendar year, which led to a little confusion in the voting.
Now, though, it's judged on performances over a season, which means we've only had nearly two months of sample size to consider possible contenders for the 2026 prize.
Some players have started the season in fine form, though, and a successful World Cup campaign could push their stars higher in the eyes of the voting journalists.
João Neves was another PSG star who enjoyed a stunning season, and he landed 19th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting.
Les Parisiens are, of course, favorites for the Ligue 1 title, and they have the same label to repeat as Champions League winners.
Add in a successful World Cup campaign with Portugal, and Neves could shoot up the rankings for next year's Ballon d'Or.
He's started his 2025-26 campaign with three goals for PSG in league play in just three games—putting him joint-top of the French top flight's top scorers list after five matchdays—representing a lightning start to the campaign for the diminutive midfielder.
Another PSG star could also get a little more attention from the voting journalists next time around.
Désiré Doué was electric for the French side in his first season for the club, scoring 16 goals and adding 16 assists across all competitions.
He landed 14th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting, and while injury has scuppered the start of his 2025-26 campaign, there will certainly be more eyeballs on the 20-year-old across what will surely be another successful season for Les Parisiens.
When Scott McTominay swapped Manchester United for Napoli, few could have anticipated the success the Scotland international would achieve.
He was crucial as Gli Azzurri snagged the Serie A title, putting in dominant displays from midfield and grabbing 12 goals and six assists. After getting little love in the north-west of England, he's now a hero in southern Italy.
The 28-year-old might be hindered in his Ballon d'Or ambitions if Scotland doesn't make it to North America for the World Cup, but after landing 18th in the voting in 2025, he might fancy a chance at a podium if he can guide his nation to the tournament and repeat his 2024-25 success with Napoli.
Ryan Gravenberch had a true breakout season for Liverpool last season, taking up a new role as a No. 6 and looking like he was born for the position.
He was named the Premier League's Young Player of the Season after the Reds' title-winning campaign, and he's stepped up a level already this season, adding two goals and an assist from midfield in four games after being given slightly more attacking freedom by coach Arne Slot.
He wasn't even on the long list of Ballon d'Or nominees for 2025's award, but based on his start to the season, the Dutchman will almost certainly have his name put forward for the 2026 version. A solid World Cup campaign with the Netherlands won't hurt his case, either.
Tijjani Reijnders has started brightly at Manchester City, despite the club's lackluster start to the Premier League campaign.
The Dutchman has one goal and two assists in the Premier League and one assist in the Champions League already, coming off the back of 20 goal involvements for Milan last season.
City's disappointing form will hamper his chances, but he's certainly playing at a high individual level.
Luis Diaz swapped the Premier League title winners for the Bundesliga champions in the summer, landing with Bayern Munich in an $82 million deal.
While he always impressed with Liverpool, his output was a little irregular. In Germany, though, he's off to a flyer. In seven games in all contests, he has four goals and two assists.
With Bayern likely to win the Bundesliga and put up a challenge for the Champions League title, Diaz should end the season with more silverware.
With Colombia at the World Cup, he could also inspire a deep run in the tournament for the South Americans.
The Usual Suspects
3 of 5
In the 2024-25 season, Vinicius Jr. didn't have the kind of form that almost pushed him to Ballon d'Or glory a year ago, and he landed 16th in the voting for 2025.
However, he still managed to score 22 goals and add 19 assists in 58 games in all competitions.
The Brazilian will have the panel's attention in the 2025-26 campaign, especially in a World Cup year, and he'll definitely be in with a chance.
Achraf Hakimi was the highest-placing defender in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting, coming sixth after a silverware-laden campaign for PSG.
His efforts from right-back were a huge part of the club's success, with 11 goals and 16 assists throughout the season.
The 26-year-old's case for a higher place in 2026 will be helped by a World Cup campaign with Morocco. The Atlas Lions finished fourth in Qatar in 2022 and will be hoping for a similar showing in North America.
If he achieves both club and international success this season, he'll be pushing for greater individual recognition.
Mohamed Salah was the favorite for the Ballon d'Or for long stretches of last season, but Liverpool's Champions League exit at the round-of-16 stage and his poor form to end the campaign harmed his case. He ultimately finished fourth in the voting.
But Liverpool are already setting the pace in the Premier League, and the Egyptian has two goals and two assists so far.
After equalling the record for the highest goal involvements in a Premier League season and being named the division's Player of the Season, he'll be hunting personal accolades again.
A successful club season and a talismanic effort for Egypt at the World Cup, should they qualify, might get him on the Ballon d'Or podium in 2026.
Harry Kane can't really do a lot more to further his case for the Ballon d'Or. He finally ended his trophy drought after lifting the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich, and he swiftly added the German Supercup to his burgeoning collection.
But one thing could tip him closer to Ballon d'Or recognition: A World Cup win with England.
The national team captain has come close to ending the Three Lions' nearly 60 years of hurt, reaching the European Championship final in 2020 and 2024 and finishing in fourth at the 2018 World Cup.
Ending his country's trophy drought could be the key to getting him the golden orb—he has a taste for trophies now, after all.
Jude Bellingham took a step back in 2024-25 after a rip-roaring start to his Real Madrid career, which saw him finish third in the 2024 Ballon d'Or voting.
The Englishman didn't even make the top 20 this time around, with his campaign hindered by injury and suspension and ending with a lack of silverware.
He has started the 2025-26 campaign in similar fashion, left out of the Xabi Alonso revolution so far because of a shoulder injury.
But he is approaching full fitness, and he'll be a key player in the Spaniard's arsenal as the campaign progresses.
Of course, he could also be instrumental in his country's World Cup campaign, too, so don't rule out the 22-year-old from reminding everyone of his true abilities again.
Erling Haaland wasn't quite at his formidable best in 2024-25, and that saw him finish 26th in the Ballon d'Or voting.
It says a lot when a 34-goal season is considered a bad year, but that's what happens when you've established yourself as a goal machine. Manchester City's worst season in years didn't give him any assistance, either.
While the Norwegian has already scored six goals in five Premier League games at the start of 2025-26, his team's poor start could again make it difficult for him to vote for.
If he drags Norway to the World Cup, that could encourage some votes. But while he might get back to his free-scoring best during the season, it's tough to see him getting much higher than the top 10 for the highest individual honor.
The Podium Contenders
4 of 5
Vitinha, a man who once couldn't get into Wolverhampton Wanderers' first team, is now the third-best player in the world.
While that may be a little reductive, it's still remarkable evidence of the Portuguese midfielder's professional progression.
The 25-year-old shot up the Ballon d'Or 2025 odds after his influence on a hugely successful PSG team became fully apparent, and he more than deserved the votes he received.
Again, like his PSG teammates, he's bound to be bathed in silverware come season's end, and a likely deep run with Portugal at the World Cup is going to help his case massively.
He might not take the top prize, but he's definitely a favorite to crack the top three again.
Another fun-sized midfielder from Iberia could also claim a podium spot, with Pedri poised to improve on his 11th-place finish in 2025.
The Spaniard claimed the La Liga title with Barcelona last season, but he lacked the headline statistics that his attacking teammates boasted to really boost his claim in the Ballon d'Or stakes.
However, like Vitinha, a few top performances in high-profile competitions and fixtures could quickly make him a contender for the Ballon d'Or.
With a World Cup on the horizon in which Spain is heavily favored, he'll be able to demonstrate his talents on the global stage and get the personal recognition that he deserves.
Lamine Yamal requires little introduction at this point, having burst onto the football scene at Euro 2024 and consistently delivered magic with Barcelona since.
The 18-year-old (!!!) became the first player to win back-to-back Kopa trophies at the 2025 Ballon d'Or ceremony, the award given to the best young player on the planet.
But he also finished second in the voting for the true top prize, just missing out on becoming the youngest player ever to win the shiny ball.
It's a huge season for the Barcelona forward, as he prepares to defend Barcelona's La Liga title, bids for Champions League success, and tunes up for his first-ever appearance on the World Cup stage.
If he claims a clean sweep in those competitions, it would be hard to deny him a record-breaking title.
Lamal's Barcelona teammate Raphinha might feel a little aggrieved that his efforts are being overshadowed by someone 10 years his junior, but he was still sensational for Barcelona last season.
The Brazilian notched a stunning 34 goals and 25 assists in all competitions for La Blaugrana in 2024-25, but that only landed him fifth in the Ballon d'Or voting.
Unfortunately for the 28-year-old, Brazil's recent disappointing form will further harm his chances of breaking the top three. Still, if he can keep up his domestic form and be involved in crucial goals for La Blaugrana, he'll at least make his presence felt among voters and present some tough choices.
The Winner
5 of 5
Kylian Mbappé has had his season to settle at Real Madrid. Now he'll finally be the Galactico everyone was expecting.
The Frenchman wasn't even bad for Los Blancos last season, scoring 44 goals and making five more in all competitions. But his slow start made life difficult for his new team, meaning La Liga glory couldn't be achieved and dreams of a Champions League title were scuppered at the quarterfinal stage.
But he's hit the ground running in 2025-26, topping the Spanish top flight's scoring charts after five matchdays with a hit rate of a goal a game.
Now, Los Blancos will be gunning for league and European glory, and the Frenchman will also have his eyes on global domination.
After winning the World Cup with France in 2018 and finishing as a runner-up in 2022, Mbappé will be on a mission to marry high-profile domestic honors with international glory (with a handful of key performances and stunning goals along the way) to make his case for the Ballon d'Or undeniable.
The closest he's come to the golden orb was a third-place finish in 2023, but in 2026, he'll finally be officially named the best football player on the planet.
