Written by Yaro Pavlenko

Who Will Win the Ballon d'Or?

The 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist is out, and the odds have England captain and Bayern Munich talisman Harry Kane heading the list as a strong favourite at 3/5 after a season that brought 73 goals (so far) for club and country — a return that has left the rest of the field some distance behind.

Barcelona's Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal is next in the betting odds at 14/5, with Real Madrid's French phenom Kylian Mbappé at 17/2. Legendary Argentine Lionel Messi is 18/1 for a ninth award at the grand old age of 39, at the same odds with Rodri, who returns to contention after a Golden Ball-winning World Cup with Spain.

Perhaps the most striking price belongs to Ousmane Dembélé. The reigning winner is out to 100/1, despite Paris Saint-Germain placing 10 of the 30 names on the shortlist. Dembélé has himself pointed to teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a 28/1 shot, as PSG's best hope this year.

There is no place for Portuguese icon Cristiano Ronaldo after a disappointing World Cup campaign, while Messi's inclusion for this year is his 17th nomination in total,  still one short of generational rival Ronaldo's record.

The ceremony takes place on 26 October. For the first time since 2019 it moves away from the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, heading to London in honour of the first-ever winner, Stanley Matthews.

Ballon d'Or Odds – 2026 Nominees

Latest prices on the Ballon d'Or 2026 winner market. Odds correct as of 22 September 2026 and are subject to change.

Who Has Won the Most Ballon d'Ors?

Lionel Messi, with eight. No one else is close. Ronaldo lags behind on five, an absurd stat considering the Portuguese icon is still a clear two ahead of anyone else. 

Could Messi make history and extend his lead with a ninth award in the twilight of a glittering career?

Five players share two wins each: Alfredo Di Stéfano, Franz Beckenbauer, Kevin Keegan, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the Brazilian Ronaldo.

One piece of trivia worth knowing: Lev Yashin remains the only goalkeeper ever to win it, back in 1963. The goalkeeping award now carries his name.

Who Won the 2025 Ballon d'Or?

Ousmane Dembélé, after a season in which PSG swept Ligue 1, the Coupe de France and the Champions League. He arrives at this year's ceremony as the reigning champion, though the market makes him a 100/1 chance to retain it.

Lamine Yamal finished second and PSG midfielder Vitinha was third.

Aitana Bonmatí won the women's award for a third year running. Gianluigi Donnarumma took the Yashin Trophy but has not been nominated this time.

How Many Times Has Messi Won the Ballon d'Or?

Eight — more than anyone in the history of the award.

He won four in a row between 2009 and 2012, which was itself a record, then added a fifth in 2015. Wins in 2019, 2021 and 2023 followed, the last of those after Argentina's World Cup victory in Qatar.

A note on the record: from 2010 to 2015 the prize merged with FIFA's World Player of the Year to become the FIFA Ballon d'Or. Those years still count towards Messi's total.

How Many Times Has Ronaldo Won the Ballon d'Or?

Five. His first came in 2008 with Manchester United, followed by back-to-back awards at Real Madrid in 2013 and 2014, and another two in 2016 and 2017 after Champions League and Euro 2016 successes.

He has not won since, and is not on the 2026 shortlist — though he holds the record for most nominations, at 18. Will that record ever be broken?

Most Famous Players Never to Win the Ballon d'Or

Some of the game's biggest names have no Ballon d'Or to their name, and in a few cases the rules were the reason.

Pelé and Diego Maradona. Until 1995 the award was restricted to players at European clubs, which left both ineligible for most of their careers. When France Football ran a retrospective exercise in 2016 applying modern criteria, Pelé would have won seven.

Ferenc Puskás. One of the great goalscorers of any era, the Hungarian was runner-up in 1960 but never a winner.

Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. The engine room of the most dominant club and international side of their generation. Iniesta was runner-up in 2010; Xavi finished third three years running. Both lost out to a certain Argentine Barcelona teammate.

Paolo Maldini. Twenty-five years at the top as a defender, five European Cups, no award. Defenders have historically struggled — fellow Italian Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 is the only one to win since 1996, which he won after leading Italy to World Cup glory.

Thierry Henry. Runner-up in 2003 during his peak Arsenal years. The Frenchman is seen as one of the most deserving potential winners in the 2000s era, but alas it was not to be.

Zlatan Ibrahimović. Trophies in four countries, a highlight reel few can match, but the big Swede never finished higher than fourth in the running for this particular award.

Also on the list: Raúl, Franco Baresi, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Neymar, who finished third in both 2015 and 2017.