Organizers of the Ballon d’Or have confirmed that the official 30-man shortlist for the 2026 award will be unveiled on September 8, intensifying debate following the conclusion of the 2025/2026 European season and the FIFA World Cup in North America.
With the international media jury, comprising top journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations, evaluating both individual output and major silverware, the race for football’s highest individual honor remains highly competitive.
Here is the ranking of the top five favorites ahead of the official shortlist announcement:
5. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami / Argentina)
Messi’s inclusion among the top contenders highlights the immense weight carried by the FIFA World Cup. While domestic appearances in Major League Soccer were secondary, the 39-year-old Argentina captain delivered eight goals during the tournament to lead his nation to the final before falling to Spain.
4. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid / France)
Mbappé remains a prime contender following a record-breaking year. The 27-year-old claimed the World Cup Golden Boot in North America, becoming the all-time top goalscorer in the tournament’s history. At the club level, he recorded 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid.
3. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
The 19-year-old Barcelona winger continues his rapid rise, making history as the youngest player to feature in and win both a European Championship and a World Cup final. Yamal registered 24 goals and 18 assists over the season, driving Barcelona to the LaLiga title and playing a pivotal role in Spain’s world title run.
2. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich / England)
Kane enters the final voting phase on the back of an extraordinary individual campaign, scoring 61 goals in 51 matches for Bayern Munich to secure a domestic double and win the European Golden Shoe. Internationally, he added six goals to lead England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.
1. Rodri (Manchester City / Spain)
Sitting at the top of the rankings, Rodri reinforced his reputation as a big-stage performer by controlling the midfield for World Cup champions Spain. Serving as the tactical anchor throughout the tournament, the midfielder was awarded the World Cup Golden Ball, positioning him as the frontrunner for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.