Resolution Criteria

The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be awarded based on a season rather than the calendar year, with voters focusing on individual performance, team achievements, and sportsmanship. The award will be presented by France Football in September 2026. Resolution will be determined by the official announcement from France Football at the Ballon d'Or ceremony. Voting is conducted by journalists.

Background

The battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players beginning the campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize. Ousmane Dembélé won the 2025 Ballon d'Or after leading PSG to their first-ever Champions League title.

The frontrunners for this year are Haaland, Kane and Mbappé, all of whom concurrently hit career-best scoring streaks of ten games or more in the same timeline. Lamine Yamal is well on course to become the first player under the age of 21 to win the Ballon d'Or. Other notable contenders include Declan Rice, Vitinha, and Lamine Yamal.

Considerations

The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be dominated by the World Cup, which has historically been a platform for players to elevate their status with impressive performances and could have a significant bearing on voting patterns. There is a chance that the eventual winner doesn't emerge until the summer in North America. Lionel Messi has a real chance of being back in the running for the Golden Ball if Argentina defend their global crown in North America in 2026.

This description was generated by AI.