Top 5 Ballon d'Or 2026: Mbappe Second, Top Spot Well Deserved

Sportskeeda has provided the latest update on the competition for the 2026 Ballon d'Or award, which includes the participation of leading players such as Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.

5. Erling Haaland

Despite helping Man City achieve a historic treble, Erling Haaland missed out on the 2023 Ballon d'Or, finishing only in second place behind Lionel Messi. However, the 25-year-old striker is experiencing a stellar season with Man City and has emerged as one of the top contenders for this prestigious individual award.

So far, Haaland has scored 29 goals and provided 7 assists in 39 appearances across all competitions for Man City, playing a key role in the team's continued pursuit of the Premier League title. His chances of winning the Ballon d'Or have also significantly strengthened after helping Norway qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

4. Michael Olise

Since joining Bayern Munich in the summer of 2024, Michael Olise has flourished and steadily established himself as one of the world's finest wingers, making a noticeable impact in every competition this season.

To date, Olise has scored 13 goals and made 25 assists in 36 appearances across all fronts, contributing significantly to Bayern Munich's German Super Cup victory. Additionally, the 2001-born player has become a regular choice for the French national team and is likely to have further opportunities to prove his ability at the 2026 World Cup.

3. Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal nearly became the youngest player in history to win the Ballon d'Or, when he finished second only to Ousmane Dembele in the voting last October, at the time he was just 18 years old. Although he hasn't yet secured this prestigious individual honor, Yamal has maintained impressive form and continues to show strong progress.

This season, the Spanish player has scored 19 goals and contributed 15 assists in 36 appearances across all competitions. The standout performances of the 2007-born star helped Barcelona win the Spanish Super Cup and move closer to the La Liga title, as the Catalan side currently holds a four-point lead over Real Madrid in the standings.

Nevertheless, to increase his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or in the future, Yamal will likely need to help Barcelona achieve further success in the Champions League and also make a clear mark with La Roja at the upcoming World Cup.

2. Kylian Mbappe

Despite Real Madrid facing some difficulties in form this season, Kylian Mbappe remains one of the team's most outstanding and consistent bright spots. The French forward has set several impressive personal milestones, scoring 38 goals and providing 6 assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.

However, to enhance his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or, Mbappe will need to elevate his influence further by helping Los Blancos achieve success in La Liga and the Champions League. Additionally, following his excellent performance at the 2022 World Cup, the 27-year-old star also aims to replicate that impressive form at the upcoming World Cup in North America.

1. Harry Kane

Harry Kane is currently considered one of the world's most impressive performers, consistently troubling European defenses while playing for Bayern Munich. Not only outstanding in his scoring and finishing ability, the 32-year-old striker also shows effective playmaking by frequently dropping deep into midfield to orchestrate the game.

This season, Kane has scored 45 goals and added 5 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, contributing to Bayern Munich's German Super Cup win. His impressive performances have also helped the Bavarian club become one of the top contenders for the Bundesliga and Champions League titles.

If Kane continues to achieve success with the England national team at the World Cup this summer, his winning the 2026 Ballon d'Or would not be too surprising.