Ballon d’Or 2026 mid-season favorites revealed: Messi among contenders

Kane top favorite

Leading the ranking is Bayern Munich and England forward Harry Kane, who is showing phenomenal scoring form. He has already scored 35 goals for club and country across various competitions.

Second place goes to Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, with Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé in third.

One of the biggest surprises is Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, who ranks fifth. Also notable is the return of 38-year-old Lionel Messi to the contenders’ list, after recently winning his first North American MLS title. The Argentine holds the record for most Ballon d’Or wins, with eight.

Another point of interest is the absence of the current trophy holder and FIFA World Player of the Year 2025, Ousmane Dembélé. This is not surprising, however, as the Frenchman missed much of the autumn due to injury.

What the ranking shows

It’s worth noting that Ballon d’Or awards are now given based on seasonal achievements rather than the calendar year, meaning they reflect the best player of the 2025/26 season.

Although the first half of the season is behind us, the decisive moments will come in spring and summer next year, including the Champions League final and, most importantly, the 2026 World Cup.

Therefore, these rankings are largely provisional, but they remain interesting to follow.

Top-10 contenders for Ballon d’Or 2026:

1. Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich);

2. Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City);

3. Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid);

4. Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona);

5. Declan Rice (England, Arsenal);

6. Vitinha (Portugal, PSG);

7. Michael Olise (France, Bayern Munich);

8. Luis Díaz (Colombia, Bayern Munich);

9. Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami);

10. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG).