Updated 2026 Men's Ballon D'Or Rankings After 2026 UEFA Champions League Final

The men's European domestic season is now in the books after Paris Saint-Germain's dramatic penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in Budapest in the 2026 UEFA Champions League Final.

Normally, the Champions League plays a significant role in determining which player will win the prestigious Ballon D'Or award, but with it being a World Cup year, all bets are off.

Nevertheless, it's always good to take stock of who's winning soccer's biggest individual award. So with that all in mind, our Calum Rogers and Leo Collis decided on the top 8 candidates for the 2026 Ballon D'Or.

Disagree with our experts? Let us know in the comments section of the app!

8. Ousmane Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain and France

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The Ballon d'Or holder is once again in the running to lift the golden orb, but his chances don't look quite as high this time around.

Ousmane Dembele started just 11 games in yet another triumphant Ligue 1 campaign for Paris Saint-Germain, missing 12 matches completely because of injury.

His stats took a hit as a result, with just 10 top-flight goals compared to last season's 21.

However, he's once again been clutch in the Champions League, scoring five and adding one assist across the quarterfinal second leg against Liverpool and the semifinal double-header with Bayern Munich. He also kept his cool to score the equalizing goal from the penalty spot in the final against Arsenal.

But that body of work just isn't enough to defend his title, despite a second successive Champions League title. The World Cup could change things, but for now, he's a fair distance from true contention.

- Leo Collis

7. Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid and France

No player on this list feels as ominous as Kylian Mbappé. While the Frenchman has endured a difficult season at Real Madrid, taking criticism for both his own performances and attitude and the team's lack of success, he becomes a different proposition under the bright lights of a World Cup.

At just 19 years old in 2018, Mbappé scored four times for the eventual champions, including a sensational two-goal performance against Lionel Messi's Argentina in the round of 16. Four years later, Mbappé led the tournament in scoring with eight goals as France finished runners-up to Messi and Argentina.

While much of Mbappé's case relies on what he could do rather than what he has done, no player on the list has shown greater potential to produce something spectacular at the World Cup. If France wins the tournament and Mbappé leads the tournament in goals, he could easily wash away the disappointment over his 2026 performances to this point.

-Calum Rogers

6. Lamine Yamal, FC Barcelona and Spain

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Barcelona's Lamine Yamal continues to build on an already ridiculous football resume for an 18-year-old.

He scored his 49th senior goal for the club in 2025-26, and he broke the half-century mark in assists. Some players could go their entire career without hitting such impressive numbers. Yamal did so in just his third full season, and he's still unable to legally buy alcohol in the United States.

In 2025-26, he picked up his second La Liga trophy, adding 16 goals and 12 assists to the cause. However, the Blaugrana's exits in both the Champions League and the Copa del Rey to Atletico Madrid have harmed his chances of creating more memorable moments to bolster his case for the Ballon d'Or.

At the 2026 World Cup with Spain, a star turn on the big stage could put him right back in serious contention for the honor. He was electric in La Furia Roja's Euro 2024 win, and repeating that kind of performance in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will significantly boost his odds.

For now, though, he's a few steps behind the front-runner. 

- Leo Collis

5. Vitinha, Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal

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While his fellow contenders for the Ballon d'Or can point to statistics to support their cause, Vitinha doesn't quite have that luxury. 

Sure, he didn't dip below a 93 percent pass completion percentage in the Champions League, Ligue 1, or Club World Cup, according to WhoScored, and he did score a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Phase of Europe's premier club competition. However, the former doesn't really get the pulses racing for the average Ballon d'Or voter, while the latter came against a truly woeful team. 

Really, it's visual evidence that will justify his case. Thankfully for the Portuguese, he was absolutely stunning to watch once again. 

Even when surrounded by four or five opponents, the 26-year-old can somehow wriggle free while the ball barely leaves his toes. When given time and space, he assesses all his options in the space of a few seconds before picking the absolutely perfect pass.

He can track runners, intercept danger, and dictate a game's tempo with calm and composure, barely looking like he's put in any physical effort at all. 

Back-to-back Champions League titles help his cause, and he could yet go on a deep run with Portugal in North America. But he'll need to do something truly spectacular to be a real contender.

- Leo Collis

4. Michael Olise, Bayern Munich and France

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Michael Olise's talent was always apparent during his spell at Crystal Palace, but with Bayern Munich, he's hit an entirely new level.

The Frenchman is a joy to watch, his trickery mesmerizing, but he's now added ruthlessness to his play with the German giants. 

In 32 Bundesliga games in 2025-26, which led to yet another domestic title for Bayern, he earned a new season-high goal tally of 15 and provided an astonishing 21 assists. 

Meanwhile, in the trophy-winning DFB-Pokal campaign, he had five goal involvements in six games, and during a Champions League run that ended in the semifinals, his five goals and seven assists marked his most productive effort in European competition. 

But using words and numbers to justify his abilities does him little justice. You really need to watch how he can go from seemingly standing still on the left wing to cutting inside and smashing one home in a matter of seconds. Or to witness the combination of telepathic awareness and elite ball manipulation that unlocks runners and leads to crucial goals. 

Olise's performances during the season have possibly elevated him to world-class status, which he could cement at the World Cup. While his efforts so far aren't quite enough for Ballon d'Or recognition this time around, put him down as a favorite for next year.

- Leo Collis

3. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Paris Saint-Germain and Georgia

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Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is the only player on this list not going to the World Cup. 

The Georgian's performances to this point still make him a clear contender, however. And while he won't have the opportunity to press his claim further on the world stage, he helpfully saved his best for PSG's run to the Champions League final. The winger averaged 1.37 goal contributions in Europe per 90 minutes prior to Saturday's game, and he scored seven of his 10 goals in the knockout rounds.

His 16 goal contributions are also more than anyone else in the tournament. While he can't quite match the consistency of the likes of Harry Kane and Declan Rice across the entire season, performing like this in the biggest tournament in club football makes him a serious contender.

Without limited high-profile opportunities to stake his claim remaining, however, he may have to wait his turn. What seems more certain, though, is that we'll be talking about the winger at this level for several years to come.

-Calum Rogers

2. Declan Rice, Arsenal and England

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In a year without a clear standout candidate to this point, Declan Rice's sheer consistency makes him a stronger contender than he might have been in other years. 

Rice has played the most minutes of any outfield player for an Arsenal team that has reached a domestic cup final, won its domestic league and reached the Champions League final. Fourteen goal contributions are also not to be sniffed at for a player who doesn't spend a huge amount of time in the attacking third, with his set-piece delivery a key factor in his team's success this season.

If Rice is able to sustain his physical output into the World Cup — which is a fair question to ask after playing in 54 of Arsenal's 62 games — he could boost his chances on that stage. He will be a key figure for an England team that will enter the tournament among the favorites, and his all-action style could help him stand out in what is a crowded field of contenders.

-Calum Rogers

1. Harry Kane, Bayern Munich and England

Harry Kane has scored 31 goals already in 2026, 14 more than the next best player (Vinícius Júnior) from top-five European leagues.

That number alone would arguably make him the early favorite for the Ballon d'Or, but Kane's playmaking ability has also been a significant part of Bayern Munich's dominance in Germany and their run to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

He's a regular feature in his team's build-up play, where he uses his strength to hold off markers before finding escape routes, typically allowing wingers Michael Olise and Luis Díaz to gallop into space behind opposing defenses. 

Despite being a consistently great scorer, Kane has often been viewed as slightly unfashionable compared to others. His slower pace of play and inevitable consistency have been outshone by more spectacular moments from his peers, but it feels like he's starting to get his flowers.

This is still an open race, but Kane has a better chance than anyone to effectively seal the award with a successful FIFA World Cup campaign.

-Calum Rogers