LiveScore Have Your Say Poll: Harry Kane? Lionel Messi? Who Should Win the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
LiveScore Features
With the World Cup 2026 done and dusted, attention will soon turn back to the domestic season. And with the winner of football’s showpiece likely to determine the 2026 Ballon d’Or victor, LiveScore ran the poll asking who deserves to win football’s individual award.
Poll Results
In the battle of the game’s best wingers at the New York New Jersey Stadium earlier this month, it was Lamine Yamal who emerged victorious over Lionel Messi. Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina means the teenager has moved ahead of the iconic forward in the race to be crowned football’s best player.
And of the 35,981 people who took part in the LiveScore poll, 6,563 (18.24%) have backed Yamal to claim the gong in France later this year. The Barcelona star finished way ahead of Messi, with 5,329 votes (14.82%) and compatriot Rodri, who earned 6,051 votes (16.82%).
3,490 (9.70%) believe that somebody else should claim the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Erling Haaland, Pau Cubarsi and Michael Olise among those to have come into consideration. However, it’s Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe battling for top spot among voters.
Kane, with 7,383 votes (20.52%), pips Mbappe, who earned 7,165 (19.91%), to top spot with voters.
Does Harry Kane deserve to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
Harry Kane may have failed to fire England to glory in North America this summer. The Three Lions fell to a semi-final exit as they crashed to a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Atlanta in the World Cup 2026 final-four showdown.
Even so, Kane managed six goals and provided one assist for Thomas Tuchel’s side, including key strikes in wins over Croatia, DR Congo and Mexico. What’s more, the 32-year-old was vital as Bayern Munich swept aside all those before them in Germany’s top tier last term.
Vincent Kompany’s men won the title at a canter, finishing 16 points clear of Borussia Dortmund in second. Kane, meanwhile, scored 36 of their 122 league goals. The former Tottenham Hotspur man also bagged 10 times as Bayern won the DFB-Pokal, beating VfB Stuttgart 3-0 in May’s final. No prizes for guessing who scored a hat-trick in the clash.
Admittedly Bayern failed to make the Champions League final. The German giants, like England, crashed at the semi-final stage to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. Even so, Kane was superb again last season and the England star is now the outright favourite to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
Does Kylian Mbappe deserve to be in the reckoning?
France were the pre-World Cup favourites to go the distance in North America. And yet, they failed to even podium in North America in Didier Deschamps’ final tournament as Les Bleus boss.
Kylian Mbappe did all he could to fire his nation to glory this summer, scoring more goals (10) than any other at the World Cup 2026. Additionally, Mbappe struck 15 times in the Champions League, more than any other player, while he won the Pichichi trophy in La Liga, netting 25 times.
The issue, though, was that Mbappe failed to win a single team accolade for club and country last season. Real Madrid crashed out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage. They finished second in La Liga. This is what will hold Mbappe back when it comes to voting for the individual player award later this year.
What about Lamine Yamal?
Football fans believe that the World Cup triumph means the 2026 Ballon d’Or is Lamine Yamal’s to lose. The Spanish teen finished second to Ousmane Dembele last year, and many feel he’ll go one better this time around.
And yet, while Yamal impressed for La Roja this summer, he wasn’t their driving force in their World Cup success. The 19-year-old may have completed 27 take ons, the second most, and created seven chances for Luis de la Fuente’s side.
Yamal, though, struck just once, and that came in a routine 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the group stages. He failed to provide an assist.
Can Rodri Win It Again?
Rather, the stand out Spain star was midfielder Rodri. The Manchester City man’s importance was called into question before the tournament kicked off. Rodri silenced his critics and then some as Spain controlled their way to international success.
The 30-year-old made more passes (811) than any other player. Rodri’s dominance in the middle of the park saw Spain concede just 10 shots on target and one goal on their way to a second World Cup. The tournament Golden Ball winner would arguably be a more deserving winner than compatriot Yamal.
Conclusion
To some, Kane should claim the award. The England star has been vital for club and country in 2026, and if he can maintain that form at the start of the new season, then he’ll be a shoo-in for the award.
Conversely, Rodri was the shock winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2024. And having won the Euro 2024 Player of the Tournament before claiming the gong two years ago, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Spaniard land the award again. He’d be a worthy Ballon d’Or 2026 victor.
