It doesn’t feel that long ago that fans were celebrating Ousmane Dembele’s 2025 Ballon d’Or win, but football moves faster than the speed of light and so attention has already turned to who could win next year’s Golden Ball – handed to the best player in the world for the 2025/26 season.
Ballon d'Or Power Rankings

Ballon d’Or 2026 Power Rankings

Will Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo make a shock return to football’s pedestal? In a World Cup year, almost anything is possible, but it’s safer to place your bets on star players representing one of the favourites for next year’s showpiece prize.

Meanwhile, clubs such as Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Paris Saint-Germain – each of whom have started the campaign in scintillating form – will have players in contention to hoist the Ballon d’Or, with league and Champions League winners traditionally holding a strong influence at the ceremony.

In the past, the prestigious individual accolade was based on the performance of footballers across a calendar year. However, this time around – for the fourth time in the award’s history – the votes are based on the results of the season. With that in mind, we’ve listed – and ranked – the 20 players who are best placed to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or based on their respective team’s chances of success as well as their current form.

10Michael Olise

Bayern Munich & France

Michael Olise

It’s fair to say that Michael Olise has exceeded expectations at Bayern Munich following his £50 million move from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024. That transfer fee now looks extremely good value for one of the world’s most in-form wingers, who is currently scoring goals and providing assists for fun in the Bundesliga.

Still only 23 years old, Olise will certainly be in the Ballon d’Or conversation if he manages to help France win the 2026 World Cup. Plenty of Premier League clubs will be kicking themselves that they were unable to keep this hugely talented forward in England’s top division.

9Cristiano Ronaldo

Al-Nassr & Portugal

cristiano ronaldo

8Luis Diaz

Bayern Munich & Colombia

luis diaz

7Lionel Messi

Inter Miami & Argentina

Lionel Messi celebrates a goal

6Declan Rice

Arsenal & England

Arsenal's Declan Rice

5Pedri

Barcelona & Spain

Pedri in action at Euro 2024