The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has intensified following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup, with the voting period for this year’s award already confirmed.
The prestigious Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to hold in October 2026, with the winner to be determined based on performances recorded between August 1, 2025, and July 31, 2026.
Attention has now shifted to the likely nominees after Spain defeated defending champions Argentina 1-0 in Sunday’s World Cup final to lift the trophy.
Spain’s triumph has boosted the chances of several of its players, with a number of Spanish stars now among the bookmakers’ favourites to win the award.
However, according to UK outlet Metro, England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane currently tops the bookmakers’ rankings.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, Argentina captain Lionel Messi and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe are also rated ahead of Spain captain Rodri in the latest odds.
Meanwhile, reigning Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele has seen his chances of retaining the award diminish. The French forward, who won the 2025 edition, is now priced at 14/1 after France failed to reach the World Cup final, losing to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
