A few days after Spain’s triumph, individual performances, team trophies, and World Cup heroics allow us to draw up an early pecking order.
The 2025-2026 season has now come to an end, and the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or enters its final stretch. Since the official list of nominees has not yet been unveiled, this ranking remains editorial. It is based on statistics, trophies won, and the impact made during the World Cup.
The provisional top 10
1. Lamine Yamal – Spain and FC BarcelonaWith 22 goals and 21 assists, the prodigy clinched La Liga, the Spanish Super Cup, and most importantly, the World Cup. This track record puts him just ahead of his rivals.
2. Harry Kane – England and Bayern MunichWith 73 goals, three domestic trophies, and six goals at the World Cup, the Englishman undoubtedly boasts the strongest statistical case.
3. Rodri – Spain and Manchester CityHis club season was disrupted, but his World Cup title and his player of the tournament award have catapulted his candidacy back into the spotlight.
4. Lionel Messi – Argentina and Inter MiamiWinner of the MLS Cup, the Argentine racked up 44 goals and 30 assists. His eight goals and four assists at the World Cup led the Albiceleste to the final.
5. Kylian Mbappé – France and Real MadridDespite a trophyless year with his club, his 58 goals and the World Cup Golden Boot, thanks to ten goals scored, keep the Frenchman firmly in the race.
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6. Michael Olise – France and Bayern MunichHis 24 goals, 38 assists, and seven assists at the World Cup make for an exceptional tally, further bolstered by three trophies in Germany.
7. Ousmane Dembélé – France and PSGThe reigning Ballon d’Or holder secured the Champions League and Ligue 1, with 25 goals, 14 assists, and six goals at the World Cup.
8. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Georgia and PSGAbsent from the World Cup, the Georgian pays the price for his national team’s failure, but his influence in PSG’s latest European triumph remains significant.
9. Erling Haaland – Norway and Manchester CityWith 58 club goals and seven at the World Cup, the Norwegian also led his country to the quarter-finals.
10. Pau Cubarsí – Spain and FC BarcelonaSpanish champion, world champion, and best young player of the tournament, the defender stands out as one of the year’s biggest revelations.
The main battle is likely to be between Yamal, Kane, and Rodri. The first has the trophies, the second the numbers, and the third the most prestigious individual award of the World Cup.
Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
