AFP

Predicting Top Ballon D'Or 2026 Contenders

While Ousmane Dembele has been crowned the Ballon d'Or 2025, winner the 2025-26 football season is already underway.

AFP

On that note, let's take a look at 5 players who could be big contenders for men's football's biggest individual award in 2026:

AFP

Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe has begun the 2025-26 season in spectacular form, scoring 9 goals in 7 games for Real Madrid.

AFP

Lamine Yamal

After finishing second in 2025, 18-year-old Barcelona star Yamal is expected to be a contender for years to come.

AFP

Erling Haaland

Like Mbappe, Man City striker Haaland has begun the new season in exceptional scoring form (7 goals in 6 games).

AFP

Harry Kane

The English striker has 16 goal contributions already in just 7 matches for an in-form Bayern Munich team.

AFP

Virgil van Dijk

Liverpool's towering Dutch centre-back could be a surprise contender if he can rack up a few major trophies.

AFP

With 2026 be a World Cup year, players who star in the tournament could end up challenging for the Ballon d'Or.

AFP

For more sports news 

AFP
sports.ndtv.com