Ballon d'Or predictions, rankings for men's player of the year: Kane the favorite? Who are the contenders?

The Ballon d'Or nominees for the top men's player in the world for the 2025-26 season have been announced, and it's time to rank the leading contenders and predict who will finish where. This is obviously very easy and straightforward and we will all agree... On Tuesday 30 players were announced as finalists for the award, which is based on their form during the 2025-26 season for club and country . And with the 2026 World Cup seeing plenty of superstars dominating, there are some big names who dazzled this summer in the running for this prestigious award. Below we break down the favorites and select who we think will win it all when the winner is announced on October 26, 2026 in London. 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings and predictions 10. Fabian Ruiz — PSG and Spain Battled through injuries for PSG last season, otherwise he'd be higher on our list. Came back just in time to be influential in midfield in PSG's Champions League win and Spain's World Cup success. His combination of being an elite passer and presser is so unique and sets the tone for his teams to dominate. Incredibly underrated. 9. Ousmane Dembele — PSG and France Like Ruiz above, injuries impacted Dembele too but he still ended up with 20 goals in 40 games in all competitions for PSG. He scored the penalty kick in the Champions League final to take the game to extra time as they ultimately won back-to-back European titles. The 2025 Ballon d'Or winner also scored six goals at the 2026 World Cup and was key in France's run to the semifinals. His movement and positional flexibility is so hard to stop. 8. Erling Haaland — Manchester City and Norway Yet another season full of goals for Man City as he scored 38 in 52 games in all competitions and they won the League Cup and FA Cup and pushed Arsenal all the way in the Premier League. But his crowning moment of the season was scoring seven goals at the World Cup for Norway, as he spearheaded their fairytale run to the quarterfinals. Also, he's become an internet sensation to the wider world by generally being hilarious. Somehow he's still only 26 years old. 7. Lionel Messi — Inter Miami and Argentina Rolled back the years at the age of 39 to lead Argentina to the World Cup final for a third time in four tournaments, but it wasn't to be back-to-back World Cup titles for Messi. Still, his magic in the tournament was incredible and he dragged Argentina through with so many great goals, assists and moments of pure genius. To do that at his age this summer was superhuman and he also continues to score boat loads of goals for Inter Miami in MLS. The eight-time winner of this award worked miracles for Argentina and it will be sad to see him no longer play on the international stage after he recently announced his retirement for La Albiceleste. 6. Michael Olise — Bayern Munich and France A simply wonderful player to watch and many highlights of the 2026 World Cup came via Olise's mind-blowing passes and assists. He glides across the pitch so effortlessly and after a stunning season with Bayern (15 goals and 19 assists) he followed it up by being the chief creator in France's run to the World Cup semifinals and had the most assists at the tournament with seven. Combines style with substance so elegantly. 5. Lamine Yamal — Barcelona and Spain Impacted by injuries, Yamal persevered and the teenager won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain. He has only just turned 19 and this summer he became the first teenager in history to win the European Championships and World Cup. His trickery and directness on the ball is mesmerizing and Yamal somehow went under the radar at the World Cup as he put Spain's quest for glory over his individual game. That is what makes him truly great and mature beyond his years. 4. Kylian Mbappe — Real Madrid and France He finished the 2026 World Cup as the top goalscorer with 10 goals and is now the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history with 22. He also finished as the top scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 15 goals. Of course, Mbappe didn't win anything with his club or country as Real Madrid's midseason manager change impacted their chances of winning silverware. But he still scored 42 goals in 44 games for Real. Not bad. 3. Rodri — Manchester City (now Barcelona) and Spain Suffered a horrible injury just before he won this award two years ago, and Rodri was still getting back to his best at City last season. He did put in some dominant displays in midfield to keep them in the title race as they won two trophies. But it was this summer with Spain where his class and power proved to be the difference as he captained them to World Cup glory and was amazing in the final. His passing, positioning and ability to read the game is right up there with the very best central midfielders the game has ever seen. Rodri, 30, has since moved to Barcelona and will be key in their hopes of winning the Champions League. 2. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — PSG and Georgia The Georgian sensation posted incredible numbers in the Champions League last season, and of course he was sadly missed this summer as Georgia didn't qualify for the World Cup. His importance in PSG's Champions League win was huge with 10 goals and six assists as he dazzled in the semifinal win against Bayern Munich. Kvaratskhelia won the crucial penalty in the final and was a constant menace who turned up throughout the latter stages of the knockout rounds. He is clutch, always turns up for big games and is basically unstoppable on his day. 1. Harry Kane — Bayern Munich and England Kane scored 73 goals for club and country and led Bayern Munich to the German league and cup double and semifinals of the Champions League (where they lost in thrilling fashion to eventual champs PSG) and scored six as England came third at the World Cup. Kane, 33, has been so consistent for the last decade but his best-ever goalscoring season surely deserves to be recognized with the top award. He has also become so key for Bayern and England in dropping deep to set up chances and is the best all-round forward in the world. This is his time to be recognized based on his combined form for club and country during a simply stunning 2025-26 season. Other confirmed nominees, in no particular order Gabriel (Arsenal and Brazil), Declan Rice (Arsenal and Brazil), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil), William Saliba (Arsenal and France), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England), Vitinha (PSG and Portugal), Ferran Torres (Barcelona - now PSG and Spain), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich and France), Bruno Fernandes (Man United and Portugal), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea - now Real Madrid and Spain), Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich and Colombia), Achraf Hakimi (PSG and Morocco), Sadio Mane (Senegal and Al-Nassr), Marquinhos (PSG and Brazil), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan and Argentina), Nuno Mendes (PSG and Portugal), Joao Neves (PSG and Portugal), William Pacho (PSG and Ecuador), Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah and Mexico)