The 2026 Ballon d'Or race: Yamal ranks 4th, where is Mbappe placed?

Sportkeeda has provided a fresh update on the 2026 Ballon d'Or race, highlighting players such as Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe.

5. Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland is showcasing brilliant form with Manchester City and the Norwegian national team. Undoubtedly, he is one of the best strikers of his generation. This season, Haaland has almost single-handedly carried Pep Guardiola’s squad’s goal-scoring duties, netting nine goals in just seven Premier League matches.

With incredible speed and a cold finishing ability, Haaland always knows how to punish even the slightest defensive mistakes. He aims to improve on his 26th place finish in the 2025 Ballon d'Or race, driven by stronger determination than ever before.

However, the only obstacle that could block Haaland’s path to the 2026 Ballon d'Or is Manchester City’s inconsistent performance this season, along with Norway’s chances of progressing far in next year’s World Cup.

If Haaland can help his club or national team secure major trophies in the coming 12 months, he will undoubtedly become one of the top contenders for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

4. Lamine Yamal

At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal is certainly one of the strong candidates for the 2026 Ballon d'Or if he maintains his excellent condition. Despite his young age, experts have rated him as one of the best wingers globally. In 2025, he narrowly missed out to Ousmane Dembele, finishing as the runner-up in this prestigious individual award race.

With his magical left foot and a playing style reminiscent of Lionel Messi, Yamal aspires to follow in the footsteps of the Argentine legend by becoming a multiple Ballon d'Or winner in the future.

Currently, Yamal is a first-choice starter for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team. The 2025/26 season promises to be a milestone that could elevate his name to one of the finest players of the new generation.

3. Michael Olise

Michael Olise is among the most impressive performers worldwide right now. He has proven his importance for both Bayern Munich and the French national team.

Primarily playing as a right winger, Olise stands out with his refined technique, tricky dribbling, and highly creative passing. This versatility has quickly made him one of Europe’s most feared attackers this season.

At 23, entering the prime of his career, Olise is expected to continue shining and lead both Bayern Munich and France in the near future. The French star is also fitting well into coach Vincent Kompany’s football philosophy, and it will be exciting if he maintains this excellent form through the end of the season.

2. Harry Kane

Harry Kane is in devastating form for Bayern Munich, making it hard to overlook him in the current race for the world’s best player.

The England captain striker has scored 16 goals in just nine games this season for Bayern and shows no signs of slowing down. Beyond his lethal goal-scoring instinct, Kane demonstrates completeness by continuously creating excellent chances for teammates, confirming his status as a top striker at the peak of his career.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Kane openly expressed his ambition to win the Ballon d'Or: “Of course, I really want to win the Ballon d'Or. Actually, it’s a collective reward given to the best individual in the winning team. So, no matter how well you perform, if you don’t win major tournaments, the award usually goes to the Champions League or World Cup winner.”

Kane aims to become the first English player since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the Ballon d'Or, and with his current form, that dream could very well come true in 2026.

1. Kylian Mbappe

Long considered a leading candidate for the Ballon d'Or, Kylian Mbappe is very close to realizing that dream this season. The French star started the season in dazzling form, becoming the focal point among Real Madrid’s stars.

So far, Mbappe has scored 14 goals and provided two assists in 10 matches, leading the attack for the team coached by Xabi Alonso. He seems to have regained his best version after a less explosive debut season at Bernabeu.

Real Madrid is always a strong contender for every award, and if Mbappe maintains his impressive Champions League form, he could rise as the top candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.

Moreover, Mbappe always shines at World Cup tournaments. The 2018 world champion will surely aim to make another significant impact on football’s biggest stage next year.

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