With the FIFA World Cup 2026 in the books, the Ballon d’Or race has become tighter than ever.
The FIFA World Cup has always had the power to reshape the Ballon d’Or conversation. A brilliant club season can put a player in pole position, but a memorable World Cup often becomes the deciding factor.
After a month of football’s biggest stars battling on the grandest stage, the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or looks more competitive than ever. Some players strengthened their cases with unforgettable performances, while others saw their chances fade after underwhelming tournaments.
10. Declan Rice (England/Arsenal)
Arsenal once again built their success on one of Europe’s toughest defenses, and Declan Rice remained the heartbeat of that system. Whether shielding the backline or progressing the ball forward, the English midfielder was consistently among the Premier League’s best. He may not produce the flashy numbers of other Ballon d’Or contenders, but few players influence matches as consistently as Rice does.
9. Erling Haaland (Norway/Manchester City)
Manchester City’s attack once again revolved around Erling Haaland and that was never a problem. The Norwegian striker continued to score at a ridiculous rate, proving yet again why he remains football’s most feared finisher.
Questions surrounded whether he could replicate that dominance on the international stage, but he answered them immediately. Haaland powered Norway to a historic quarterfinal appearance with goals that carried his nation deep into the tournament. Even against elite defenders – including familiar rival Gabriel – Haaland showed why stopping him remains one of football’s toughest tasks.
8. Jude Bellingham (England/Real Madrid)
Jude Bellingham once again showed why he is one of the world’s most complete midfielders. Built for the biggest moments, the Real Madrid star remained England’s engine throughout another deep World Cup run. Bellingham’s consistency across both club and international football keeps him firmly in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
7. Ousmane Dembele (France/Paris Saint-Germain)
After years of inconsistency and injuries, the French winger finally put everything together, becoming one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking threats. Though the number of minutes he played might be a concern, he turned it up when his club and country needed him in the Champions League and World Cup, respectively.
His World Cup campaign may have been overshadowed, but France’s semifinal finish wouldn’t materialize without his brilliance that can appear out of nowhere. That combined with his outstanding club form, keeps him among the strongest contenders.
6. Michael Olise (France/Bayern Munich)
Michael Olise’s World Cup was a mixed bag. There were stretches where he looked unstoppable, creating chances and providing France with much-needed creativity, but there were also matches where he struggled to impose himself – in the semifinal against Spain – as he did not find the back of the net throughout the tournament.
Still, his season with Bayern Munich elevated him into football’s elite. The way he delivers his contributions helped establish him as one of Europe’s premier wingers. Despite not scoring a goal in the World Cup, he passed the eye-test with flying colors as he became the engine of the dynamic France attack alongside Dembele and Kylian Mbappe. He created chances and his gravity became a tool for him to break a single-tournament tally in assists.
5. Kylian Mbappe (France/Real Madrid)
Even by his own standards, Kylian Mbappe delivered another remarkable campaign. With another deep World Cup run with France in the bag, it further strengthened his credentials. Not only he became France’s all-time leading scorer, he became World Cup’s number one by showing up in the biggest moments.
Although France ultimately fell short of the final, Mbappe remained their biggest attacking threat throughout the tournament. His consistency at both club and international level ensures he remains firmly in the Ballon d’Or race. No one embraces the pressure quite like Mbappe.
4. Lionel Messi (Argentina/Inter Miami)
Even at 39 years old, Lionel Messi continues to do the impossible. Many expected the 2026 World Cup to be a farewell tour, but instead, he led Argentina to another World Cup final with moments of brilliance that reminded everyone why he remains one of football’s greatest players. No one can ever doubt him, even with backs against the wall, Messi found a way.
3. Lamine Yamal (Spain/FC Barcelona)
At just 19 years old, Lamine Yamal continues to shatter expectations. Every season seems better than the last, and 2026 may have been his best yet.
Already one of football’s biggest stars, Yamal elevated his game once more on football’s biggest stage. The stats may not reflect his impact, but the gravity Yamal brings is a big reason why it opened up so much for Spain’s attack. His creativity was instrumental in Spain’s World Cup triumph. While his age suggests there is still room to grow, he is already playing like one of the world’s very best.
2. Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich)
Harry Kane’s goalscoring season with Bayern Munich was simply extraordinary. There may not be a more clinical striker in world football today, and his numbers once again reflected that.
His World Cup, however, ended on a quieter note. After an explosive start, Kane failed to score after England’s Round of 16 victory over Mexico, as the Three Lions fell just short of reaching the final. It wasn’t enough to erase another phenomenal season, but it may have cost him the slight edge in the Ballon d’Or race.
1. Rodri (Spain/Manchester City)
Although his follow-up to his Ballon d’Or-winning campaign was interrupted by an ACL injury, Rodri’s return could not have been scripted any better.
He silenced every concern about his recovery almost immediately, returning as arguably an even better player than before. He manned Manchester City’s midfield into a domestic double. He was also one of the main reasons why the title race went into the very last day as City’s form began to rise at the latter stages of the season.
While at the World Cup – at the heart of Spain’s midfield – Rodri orchestrated another historic triumph as La Roja captured the FIFA World Cup 2026. His influence on both ends of the pitch earned him the tournament’s Golden Ball award, capping off a comeback season that completed football’s greatest prize. Winning the World Cup while once again proving himself as the game’s best midfielder makes Rodri one of the biggest favorites to win the Ballon d’Or for the second time.
Banner Images from Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol on Instagram,
Frequently Asked Questions
Rodri of Spain and Manchester City is the top-ranked contender after winning the FIFA World Cup 2026 Golden Ball, orchestrating Spain’s midfield to the title following a comeback from an ACL injury and a domestic double with Manchester City.
At 39 years old, Messi led Argentina to another World Cup final with standout moments of brilliance, keeping him among the top Ballon d’Or contenders despite pre-tournament expectations that this would be a farewell run.
Kane had an extraordinary goalscoring season with Bayern Munich, but his World Cup form cooled after England’s Round of 16 win over Mexico, and he failed to score again as England fell short of the final.
At 19, Lamine Yamal’s creativity was instrumental in Spain’s World Cup title run, with his gravity opening space for Spain’s attack even though traditional stats don’t fully capture his on-field impact.
Erling Haaland strengthened his case by powering Norway to a historic quarterfinal, while Kylian Mbappe became France’s all-time leading scorer and the tournament’s top scorer, both reinforcing their positions as top contenders.
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