The race is officially on to see who will succeed Ousmane Dembele as the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner.
Dembele took out football's top individual gong for 2025 thanks to a season in which he fired Pairs Saint-Germain to a Ligue 1 title but, more importantly, a maiden Champions League crown.
Ousmane Dembele holds the Ballon d'Or award
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Ousmane Dembele capped a stunning 2025 by lifting the Ballon d'Or awardCredit: AFP
Teenage starlet Lamine Yamal finished one place behind Dembele in the rankings and is already one of the favourites to scoop the award next year.
Harry Kane, thanks to his record breaking feats in Germany, is also in contention having banged in 117 goals for Bayern Munich since joining in 2023.
Earlier this season, the striker became the fastest player to bring up a century of goals for a major European club - beating Erling Haaland and Cristiano Ronaldo.
While Declan Rice is another in the running as he continues to go form strength to strength at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta's tutelage.
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So, who else is among the contenders to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
Here, talkSPORT.com keeps an eye on those who are expected to figure in the conversation for the coveted prize in 2026 via our Ballon d'Or power rankings.
The rankings are collated based on a player's odds, provided by talkSPORT Bet, for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
= 9th - Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 33/1
Michael Olise has been a player transformed under Bayern boss Vincent Kompany since joining from Selhurst Park for £50million in 2024.
This season, the former Crystal Palace winger has chalked up 13 goals and 20 assists from 28 games in all competitions.
The 24-year-old leads the Bundesliga in the assists charts with 15, and needs just six more to equal Thomas Muller's record of 21 in a single season.
Michael Olise in action for Bayern Munich
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Olise has established himself as one of Europe's best wingers since joining Bayern from PalaceCredit: Getty
2025 Ballon d'Or Rankings
Ousmane Dembele
Lamine Yamal
Vitinha
Mohamed Salah
Raphinha
Achraf Hakimi
Kylian Mbappe
Cole Palmer
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Nuno Mendes
Pedri
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Harry Kane
Desire Doue
Viktor Gyokeres
Vinicius Jr
Robert Lewandowski
Scott McTominay
Joao Neves
Lautaro Martinez
Serhou Guirassy
Alexis Mac Allister
Jude Bellingham
Fabian Ruiz
Denzel Dumfries
Erling Haaland
Declan Rice
Virgil van Dijk
Florian Wirtz
Erling Haaland
Operating on the right flank and boasting a wicked left foot, Olise may very well be the reincarnation of Arjen Robben at the Allianz Arena with how easily he burns past his marker when cutting inside.
His importance for Bayern is evident, but if Olise can transfer his club form onto the international stage for France at this summer's World Cup, he could end up being the toast of football.
= 9th - Raphinha (Barcelona)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 33/1
A hero at Leeds, Raphinha has become one of the world's best wingers since moving to Barcelona in 2022.
Having won two LaLIga titles in Catalonia, he could claim a third with the Brazilian once being a standout player.
Despite being limited to just 12 Spanish top-flight matches due to injury, the 29-year-old has still chipped in with seven goals and three assists.
And with Brazil one of the favourites to win the World Cup, Raphinha could be in store for a historic 2026.
Raphinha celebrates after Barcelona's Spanish Super Cup triumph
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Raphinha [right] has already helped Barcelona win the Spanish Super Cup this seasonCredit: AFP
= 7th Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 25/1
Lionel Messi may be in the twilight of his career, but don't think there's no magic left in the diminutive superstar.
Messi chalked up his 1,300th goal contribution in Inter Miami's win over FC Cincinnati in the MLS Cup play-offs in November as he had a hand in all four of the Floridians' goals.
And the 38-year-old then inspired the Herons to a first MLS Cup triumph - assisting two goals in the 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps.
In total, Messi registered a whopping 43 goals and provided 26 assists from 49 matches - the most goal contributions he managed since the 2018/19 campaign.
Lionel Messi poses with the MLS Cup trophy
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The Argentinian superstar isn't slowing down at the age of 38Credit: AFP
Whether his feats in a league like MLS would be enough to make a serious dent in the Ballon d'Or conversation remains to be seen.
But, if he can guide Argentina to back-to-back World Cup titles, who's to say Messi can't collect a ninth Ballon d'Or?
= 7th - Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 25/1
Dembele was understandably emotional after he claimed the Ballon d'Or as he became the second Frenchman in the last four years to have won the award.
Now, he has the chance to become the first player not named Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to win back-to-back Ballons d'Or since Marco van Basten, who accomplished the feat in 1988 and 1989.
The 28-year-old began the season brightly with five goal contributions in six games across all competitions.
However, his season was disrupted when he suffered a hamstring injury while on international duty with France.
Ousmane Dembele cuts a frustrated figure during a PSG fixture
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Dembele has been struck by injuries this term, but is now getting back to his bestCredit: Getty
But he looks to be back to his best, having scored in three of his four games in 2026 so far - including PSG's Trophee des Champions success over rivals Marseille.
A rejuvenated Dembele is a dangerous Dembele, and he has every chance of guiding France and PSG to further glory this year.
6th- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 16/1
Well, if Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank believes Vitinha is in with a shout of winning the Ballon d'Or, who are we to disagree?
Following Paris Saint-Germain's 5-3 win over Spurs in November, in which Vitinha bagged a hat-trick, Frank said: "By the way, Vitinha, best midfielder in the world, he'll be the next Ballon d'Or winner for me."
The former Wolves star is living up to the potential he knew he had as his displays in PSG's midfield continue to get the recognition they deserve.
Will Frank's claim prove to be true?
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Will Frank's claim prove to be true?
Whether it's his metronomic ability to keep possession ticking over, intervening at the crucial hour or chipping in vital goals, Vitinha has grown into one of the most dependable midfielders in football.
With 15 goal contributions to his name already, it's shaping up to be another memorable year for the Portugal international.
5th - Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 8/1
If the Ballon d'Or was decided purely on goals scored in a season, Erling Haaland would be in contention for the award every year.
Since the Norwegian marksman joined Manchester City in the summer of 2022, he has scored a staggering 150 goals in 176 appearances across all competitions.
In fact, only Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe have scored more league goals than Haaland since the 2022/23 season.
He has won the Premier League's Golden Boot in two of the three campaigns he has been at City.
Erling Haaland celebrates his goal against West Ham
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Haaland is on course to win a third Premier League Golden Boot award in four yearsCredit: Getty
And given he's four goals ahead of Brentford's Igor Thiago in the race for this season, you'd be silly to claim Haaland won't add a third to his collection.
To add another feather in the Norwegian's cap, he became the latest member of the Premier League's 100 club in December.
However, Haaland's Ballon d'Or hopes will likely hinge on City's success in cup competitions and the Premier League.
City went into this season on the back of their first trophyless campaign since 2017.
Two of those in succession would surely kill off any hope Haaland had of a maiden Ballon d'Or.
Haaland continues to terrorise Europe's top defenders
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Haaland continues to terrorise Europe's top defenders
4th - Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 5/1
Despite a season in which he scored 41 goals across all competitions and won his maiden Bundesliga title, Bayern striker Kane finished 13th in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings.
But in a World Cup year, it is almost perfect timing for Kane to skyrocket up the leaderboard.
A talismanic figure for England, Kane would have a ridiculously strong case for the Ballon d'Or if he can enjoy a similar goalscoring season for Bayern and lead the Three Lions to a deep run at next year's World Cup.
Kane has eight goals from 11 World Cup matches, so there's a high expectation to continue the scoring trend in 2026.
Over in Bavaria, Kane is more than living up to his billing as one of football's best goalscorers having netted 32 times from 28 matches this term.
If he can continue to break records, like he already has done this season, then Kane has every reason to be a favourite for next year's Ballon d'Or.
Kane is currently leading the race to win his second European Golden Boot
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Kane is currently leading the race to win his second European Golden Boot
= 2nd - Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
talkSPORT BET odds: 7/2
Aged 17 years and 53 days, Lamine Yamal broke the record for the youngest player to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
Although he didn't win, the fact the Spaniard finished second in the voting is clear enough of a sign a Ballon d'Or in his trophy cabinet is almost a matter of when, not if.
The teenage sensation is not shy of his aims either, stating he doesn't dream of winning just one Ballon d'Or, 'I dream of many.'
Having fired Spain to glory at Euro 2024, where he registered a tournament-leading four assists and was named the best young player, Yamal will be targeting similar success at next year's World Cup with La Roja.
Regardless of how Spain fares in North America next year, time is on Yamal's side to create history as the youngest-ever Ballon d'Or winner.
That is a record which belongs to Brazilian icon Ronaldo, who won it in 1997 aged 21 years, three months and five days.
Lamine Yamal celebrating for Barcelona
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Yamal has chipped in with ten goals and 12 assists so far this seasonCredit: Getty
= 2nd - Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 7/2
Similarly to a large number of fellow Ballon d'Or rivals, Mbappe's hopes for a maiden crown may hinge on not just Real Madrid's trophy haul this season, but France's journey at the World Cup.
He once finished as high as third in the Ballon d'Or rankings in 2023 - a year after scoring a first World Cup final hat-trick since 1966 - but hasn't quite hit those same heights since.
The former Monaco forward is on course to break the 44 goals he scored in his opening season at Real last year.
He is already on 30 strikes across all competitions from 26 matches.
And you can be sure he will be amongst the top scorers at the World Cup later this year having fired in 12 times from 14 games during his two tournament appearances.
A winner in 2018, no player has scored more goals in World Cup finals than Mbappe [four].
Kylian Mbappe celebrates in the 2022 World Cup final
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Given what Mbappe's already done in World Cups it would be no surprise if 2026 was his yearCredit: getty
1st - Declan Rice (Arsenal)
talkSPORT BET Odds: 3/1
Rice currently leads the Ballon d'Or rankings having enjoyed another stunning season for the Gunners so far.
Should he lift the trophy, which was first given out in 1956, he would be the first Arsenal player to ever get their hands on it.
The 27-year-old would also be the first Englishman in 25 years to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001.
With four goals and eight assists to his name, he has helped Arsenal sit seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
And if the north London outfit were to win their first title since 2004, Rice would also be in contention to win the PFA Player of the Year award.
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Despite joining Arsenal for a club-record £105m fee in 2023, he has more than lived up to his hefty price tag.
Visit talkSPORT BET for all the latest Ballon d'Or betting odds.
Declan Rice during Arsenal's Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur
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Rice is more than living up to his lofty price tag as Arsenal charge towards the titleCredit: Getty