Ballon d’Or 2026: Here’s how the top contenders now rank after PSG’s latest victory

Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in Wednesday night’s UEFA Super Cup has brought another dimension to the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

The Ligue 1 champions have opened the new campaign with another major trophy after defeating Arsenal in the Champions League final in May.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave PSG the lead before Brian Madjo restored parity for Aston Villa before half-time.

Desire Doué later found the winning goal in the second half to secure another European title for the French side.

PSG’s second consecutive Super Cup triumph has further enhanced the Ballon d’Or credentials of some of the club’s standout players, according to BBC Sports.

The contest for the prestigious individual prize remains highly competitive, with performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup also expected to influence the final voting.

Below is the current top five:

1. Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich): Kane currently has the most compelling statistical record among the contenders. The Bayern Munich striker netted 73 goals as the German giants secured a domestic double and progressed to the Champions League semi-finals.

2. Ousmane Dembele (France/PSG): The reigning Ballon d’Or winner scored six times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Norway. PSG’s impressive dominance both domestically and across Europe has further strengthened his claim.

3. Lamine Yamal (Spain/Barcelona): Yamal played a key role as Barcelona secured LaLiga and the Supercopa de España. Spain’s performance at this year’s World Cup has also improved his chances, despite his relatively quiet individual showing at the tournament.

4. Rodri (Spain/Man City): The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner claimed the World Cup Golden Ball after appearing in all eight of Spain’s fixtures. He also lifted the Carabao Cup and FA Cup with Manchester City, although they failed to win either the Premier League or Champions League.

5. Kylian Mbappé (France/Real Madrid): Mbappé enjoyed a remarkable World Cup campaign, registering 10 goals and four assists as France finished fourth. He also became the first player to claim the Golden Boot in LaLiga, the Champions League and the World Cup within the same calendar year. However, his limited haul of major team trophies has affected his overall chances.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.