Mbappé Leads 2026 Ballon d'Or Race as World Cup Advances

Kylian Mbappé, the captain of France, is the leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, boasting a 26% chance of winning the award. He has scored seven goals and provided two assists in the ongoing World Cup, where France has qualified for the quarter-finals.

Following Mbappé is England's captain Harry Kane, who has scored six times in the tournament, giving him a second-place chance. Lionel Messi of Argentina and Ousmane Dembélé of France have been assigned 1% and 11% chances, respectively.

Notably, Messi has already won the Ballon d'Or eight times, which adds to the intrigue of the upcoming award. The World Cup is currently in its quarter-finals stage, further intensifying the competition among these top players.