“Golden Ball”. Yamal knocked out Messi… and Mbappe retreated

There is no doubt that winning the 2026 World Cup will play a role in determining the identity of the Ballon d’Or winner.

Spain star Lamine Yamal leads the race for the Ballon d’Or after leading El Matador to the World Cup.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi is back in contention after Argentina reached the final.

Paris Saint-Germain will also have plenty of competition after winning the Champions League this season at the expense of English Premier League champions Arsenal.

And he showed GiveMeSport Network: A list of the top 10 players in the running for the 2026 Ballon d’Or based on their respective teams’ chances of success as well as their current level.

The list is based on goals scored, assists, clean sheets (defenders and goalkeepers), titles won and overall level.