Who should win 2026 Ballon d’Or? TSN writers give award verdicts as Lamine Yamal snubbed, rogue pick named originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or award gala will, in short order, crown the best player across the previous season.
As the most prestigious individual award in the global game of football, the Ballon d'Or can change a player's career completely, forever tabbing them as the planet's most decorated star across an entire season.
It is expected that last year's winner Ousmane Dembele will give way to a new star this season, as the 70th edition of the award will likely see a new victor named.
With Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal believed to be the favorites, The Sporting News content and editorial staff takes stock of who they feel are the most deserving candidates, with the gala just around the corner.
Who should win the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
Harry Kane
If Harry Kane had taken England to a World Cup final and even on to lift the trophy, there would be no debate this year. Lamine Yamal’s World Cup triumph is the key factor working against the Bayern Munich striker, but Kane’s numbers have been truly ridiculous and can’t be ignored. 73 goals for club and country in a single season is the type of crazy figures we’ve associated with the likes of Crisitiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in recent years…and look how many awards they’ve won between them. The Ballon d’Or is coming home again.
- Dan Gibbs, Senior Editor
Harry Kane deserves to win this year’s Ballon d’Or not only because of his incredible numbers and his flawless finishing, but also because of everything else he brings to the game. He is a natural goalscorer, an outstanding captain for England, and an excellent number 10 who can create chances, dictate play, and make his teammates better. Kane is much more than just a striker who puts the ball in the net — he is a complete footballer, a leader, and a player who consistently makes the difference at the highest level.
- Samir Mello, Editor
With apologies to Robert Lewandowski, the best goal scorer in the world is usually enough to win the Ballon d'Or in any given year. This year, in a season where there's no perfect candidate, Harry Kane is more than a worthy candidate in exactly that regard. Kylian Mbappe has been arguably the best individual player on the planet, but he has not played well enough within the context of his teams to lead them to titles. Lamine Yamal is a brilliant youngster who has the chance to construct the greatest-ever career, and Ballon d'Or's are certainly on the horizon, but he's not quite there just yet, and wasn't integral enough to Spain's World Cup title to use that to his benefit. With a trophy in hand and goals a-plenty, Kane is the only right choice.
- Kyle Bonn, Senior Content Producer
Kylian Mbappe
There’s often confusion about the Ballon d’Or. Is it for the world’s greatest footballer right now, or the player who has just had the best season? Well, Kylian Mbappe is both.
No, he didn’t win trophies, but if anything, that enhances his claim. Much like Bruno Fernandes sweeping Premier League awards for shining in a dysfunctional team, Mbappe played for a mess of a Real Madrid side and was utterly spectacular. He then smashed World Cup goal records for France, who were undone by having a poor midfield and susceptible full-backs. He is a player of astonishing gifts, electric to watch, and almost never a disappointment regardless of what’s around him. Right now, he’s the best player on Earth by a distance.
- Joe Wright, Senior Editor
Fabian Ruiz
The numbers Harry Kane has put up over the past year have been insane and the England captain would be a truly worthy winner. But I keep coming back to the thought that Fabian Ruiz is a masterful midfield technician for both the best club side and the best international team in the world. As his restoration to the Spain starting line-up midway through their World Cup campaign showed, he is absolutely integral to both. The fact that PSG and Spain played better football than basically anyone they faced en route to all the biggest prizes is, to a significant degree, down to Ruiz. A winner for the purists, sure, but a very deserving one.
- Dom Farrell, Senior Content Producer