With the Lionel Messi–Cristiano Ronaldo era over, the Ballon d’Or race is wide open, and many players believe the golden ball could come to them. But GOAL.com’s Ballon d’Or power ranking tells a different story — the chance of Messi winning a ninth Ballon d’Or is not over at all.
At the top for now is Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, who scored 65 goals this season and won the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the DFL Super Cup. The old jibe that he never won trophies is now in the past, and Kane wants to prove he is worthy of individual honours too.
Second is PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé. After winning last year’s award, his season began poorly because of injury, but he returned to fine form once fit, producing match-winning Champions League displays against Liverpool and Bayern and scoring in the final as PSG retained the trophy. He will also be an important member of France’s World Cup side.
Third is Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal, with 25 goals and 20 assists. Analysts saw him as the biggest contender at the start of the season, but he could miss the early World Cup matches through injury; he may return in the knockout stage, and a good showing there could push him up the race. Fourth is PSG’s Vitinha, man of the match in the final and a 2025 podium finisher, who could climb higher. Fifth is Bayern’s Michael Olise, who dazzled with 23 goals and 33 assists, his Champions League display against Real Madrid drawing special attention.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice is now ninth, having won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final — but his chances dipped after the final defeat to PSG in Budapest. Kylian Mbappé is sixth, with 48 goals but no trophy, though his record of delivering at World Cups should keep him in the race.
The surprise on the list is Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi, who scored 36 goals with 26 assists and won the MLS Cup. If he does well with Argentina at the World Cup, a return for the eight-time winner is not impossible. This time the Champions League, the World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations will all play a part in deciding the Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony in London on October 26.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report