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The Golden Ball, awarded to the standout performer of each World Cup, has previously been claimed by legends such as Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Diego Forlan and Lionel Messi. As the 2026 tournament nears, excitement is building around who might follow in their footsteps.

For this edition, odds-makers have already highlighted the leading contenders. Among them, England’s stars feature prominently.

Declan Rice may have missed out on the Premier League’s top individual honours due to Bruno Fernandes’ remarkable assist spree during the second half of the season, but the former West Ham United midfielder’s consistency and dominance made him a key figure. Rarely does he have a poor game, and if England fall short in the World Cup, it’s unlikely to be his fault.

Jude Bellingham, now wearing the coveted No.10 jersey ahead of Morgan Rogers, continues to prove himself as one of football’s biggest-stage performers. Any suggestion that a fully fit Bellingham wouldn’t start for England at the World Cup seems absurd given his form and influence.

Portugal’s midfield strength is another major talking point. The partnership of Vitinha and Joao Neves, widely regarded as the best club-level pairing in world football, gives their national team a level of control that makes them far from underdogs. In fact, they look like serious contenders rather than dark horses.

Bruno Fernandes enters the tournament after a record-breaking Premier League season, where his 21 assists earned him a clean sweep of domestic awards. It’s easy to picture him creating yet more chances on the grandest stage, setting up goals for Portugal’s veteran striker.

Vinicius Junior, despite a turbulent campaign for Real Madrid, still managed to score 22 goals and provide 14 assists. As he looks forward to working under Carlo Ancelotti again, fans are eager to see how his dynamic performances will shape Brazil’s chances, particularly with Jose Mourinho’s potential arrival at the Bernabeu stirring plenty of intrigue.

Reigning Golden Ball holder Lionel Messi, who inspired Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup with seven goals and three assists, returns at 38 for what could be his final World Cup. His enduring class ensures that he remains among the favourites.

Kylian Mbappe’s form is equally sensational. Since moving from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid, he has scored an astonishing 86 goals, even as PSG went on to win two Champions League titles while Los Blancos failed to lift one. Still, Mbappe’s record and his hat-trick in the 2022 World Cup final make him an obvious front-runner once again.

Michael Olise has taken European football by storm, contributing to 53 goals in 52 appearances for Bayern Munich this season. It’s remarkable that at 22, and yet to be capped by France, he was a spectator as Les Bleus fell to Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. That omission now feels impossible to repeat.

Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who earned the Young Player of the Tournament award at Euro 2024, is the clear favourite to repeat the feat at the World Cup. At only 18, he already boasts three La Liga titles with Barcelona and a European Championship with Spain—an extraordinary résumé for someone so young.

Harry Kane, meanwhile, continues to chase glory on the international stage. With Golden Boots at both the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2024, and 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich last season, the England captain will be determined to finally pair his scoring feats with a major trophy.