Ballon d'Or race: Who are the top five contenders

With the World Cup concluded, the football world has turned its attention to the Ballon d'Or debate. History shows that in World Cup years, the biggest individual prize is largely shaped by performances in the tournament.

In 2006, Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d'Or despite being a defender, after leading Italy to World Cup glory. In 2018, Luka Modric claimed the honour after guiding Croatia to their first-ever World Cup final. And in 2022, Lionel Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or followed Argentina's World Cup triumph in Qatar.

But after the 2026 World Cup, the landscape is completely different. Although Spain are world champions, there is no single player who can be considered an undisputed favourite. Many performed brilliantly at club level but lacked success with their national teams. Others shone at the World Cup but fell short in club performances.

Amid this uncertainty, sports streaming platform DAZN has released its power rankings of the top five contenders for the Ballon d'Or.

1. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich/England)

Harry Kane was the epitome of consistency throughout the season, even without winning the World Cup trophy. He scored six goals as England reached the semi-finals. His greatest strength, however, is his incredible tally of 70 goals across all competitions for club and country, along with winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich.

England finished third in the World Cup, and Bayern ended as Champions League runners-up. Despite the lack of a major international trophy, the England captain tops the DAZN list based on his year-round performances.

2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain)

Yamal entered the World Cup after recovering from a hamstring injury and may not have been at 100 percent fitness. Yet he emerged as one of the key figures in Spain's world triumph. His individual performances for Barcelona were outstanding as they won La Liga. He also made crucial contributions at the World Cup.

Analysts believe that if he had shown the same consistent dominance at the end of the tournament as he did in club football, he might have been the clear number one in the Ballon d'Or race.

3. Rodri (Manchester City/Spain)

Despite losing some rhythm at club level, Rodri once again proved his importance for the national team. He controlled Spain's midfield with precision, helping them become world champions, and won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player. This individual honour at the World Cup always carries significant weight in Ballon d'Or voting. The Spain midfielder remains a strong contender.

4. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/France)

Mbappe won the Golden Boot with 10 goals in the World Cup and also surpassed Lionel Messi to become the all-time top scorer in World Cup history. However, his Ballon d'Or bid has been hindered by a lack of team success. Real Madrid failed to win either La Liga or the Champions League. Meanwhile, a strong France side were eliminated in the semi-finals. Despite his exceptional individual records, the absence of major trophies places Mbappe fourth on the list.

5. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina)

At 39, Messi was once again the heartbeat of Argentina on the biggest stage. He scored eight goals and provided four assists throughout the tournament, leading his side to a second consecutive World Cup final. However, the Argentine captain was not at his best in the final against Spain.

Additionally, while he has performed brilliantly for Inter Miami, playing club football outside Europe could significantly impact the Ballon d'Or voting. Despite another memorable World Cup campaign, analysts believe a record ninth Ballon d'Or will be difficult for Messi to secure this time around.