Harry Kane remains the favorite for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, while Ousmane Dembele has made a significant move in the race. The award will be influenced by performances in the Champions League final and the 2026 World Cup.
Key points
Harry Kane is the favorite for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
Ousmane Dembele has made a significant move in the race.
The award is based on seasonal performance since 2022.
The 2026 award ceremony is on September 21st.
Champions League final and World Cup will influence the outcome.
Harry KaneOusmane DembeleLionel MessiCristiano Ronaldo
Ballon dāOr 2026 odds: Kane still favourite as Dembele makes major move
Ballon dāOr 2026 odds: Kane still favourite as Dembele makes major move
The battle for the 2026 Ballon dāOr is entering a decisive period with the Champions League final approaching later in May, and then the 2026 World Cup takes centre stage this summer.
Since 2022, the Ballon dāOr has been based on seasonal performance rather than the calendar year, placing even greater emphasis on the run-in, with the 2026 award show set for September 21st.
Last year we witnessed Ousmane Dembele join icons like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Zinedine Zidane in lifting the prestigious prize ā but who currently finds themselves in contention to win the 2026 gong?
Check out the latest Ballon dāOr odds below:
Who are the favourites for the 2026 Ballon dāOr?
Harry Kane
Harry Kane remains the favourite (5/2 with bet365) to win the 2026 Ballon dāOr as he looks to become the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001 (back when only European players won the award).
Q&A
Who are the favorites for the 2026 Ballon d'Or?
Harry Kane is currently the favorite, with Ousmane Dembele also making significant strides in the competition.
When is the 2026 Ballon d'Or award ceremony?
The 2026 Ballon d'Or award ceremony is scheduled for September 21st.
How does the Ballon d'Or voting process work since 2022?
Since 2022, the Ballon d'Or is based on seasonal performance rather than the calendar year, emphasizing players' performances in the final months leading up to the award.
What major events will influence the 2026 Ballon d'Or race?
The Champions League final and the 2026 World Cup will significantly impact the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or.
See every story in Sports ā including breaking news and analysis.
Kane, who has formed an incredible triumvirate with Michael Olise and Luis Diaz, has 48 goals in 55 games this season, 13 of which came in the Champions League, while heās cruising towards a third straight Bundesliga Golden Boot with 33 goals and counting.
Kane has already won another Bundesliga title, and can add the DFB-Pokal later in May, but his dreams of Champions League glory were ended by PSG in the semi-finals, which could dent his Ballon dāOr hopes a little. However, he does have the opportunity to lead a well-fancied England to glory at the World Cup this summer, so watch this space.
Ousmane Dembele
2025 Ballon dāOr winner Ousmane Dembele was out at 20/1 a few weeks ago to become the first back-to-back winner since Lionel Messi in 2021.
However, heās been a big mover into the 9/2 second favourite following a series of superb displays in the Champions League, where he netted a brilliant brace away to Liverpool at Anfield and then scored three goals in PSGās 6-5 aggregate semi-final win over Bayern Munich.
After a difficult start to the season which was plagued by injury, the Ballon dāOr holder has started to peak as he chases more individual and team honours. Heās also set to play a starring role for France at the World Cup, which could further fuel his chances.
Michael Olise
Michael Olise is simply a joy to watch, elevating his game to new heights since his summer switch from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich, where heās accumulated a whopping 51 goal involvements in 49 games across three different competitions.
The Frenchmanās panache and creativity has been off the charts, with 30 assists putting him just three shy of the single-season record in Europeās top five leagues, which is currently shared by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Xavi and Lionel Messi (32). On current form, he could smash this.
Olise is on course to help Bayern win a double, while he also harbours ambitions of World Cup success with France this summer. Priced at 5/1, heās now a serious contender in the Ballon dāOr race.
Declan Rice has surged into the Ballon dāOr conversation, shortening dramatically from a 40/1 outsider in November to 5/1 in May with Bet365.
The midfielder has been a central cog in Arsenalās campaign. While the clubās Quadruple, and then treble, dreams were crushed following domestic cup defeats, they do remain favourites for the Premier League title and have reached the Champions League final.
If Rice, who is one of the favourites to win the Premier League Player of the Year, can drive Arsenal to a first league crown since 2003-04, and potentially help deliver a first-ever Champions League triumph, heāll be firmly in contention. Add in the prospect of a major international impact with England this summer, and his Ballon dāOr case only strengthens.
Who else is in the mix?
Lamine Yamal (8/1) is widely tipped as a future multiple Ballon dāOr winner and 2026 could be the year he scoops his maiden accolade. This season alone, heās contributed 42 goals and assists in 45 games.
While the Champions League quarter-final disappointment will sting, Yamalās Barcelona are honing in on the league title to add to their Supercopa de Espana success. Yamal will then turn his focus to the international stage, as he aims to propel Spain to World Cup glory, just as he did at Euro 2024 as a 16-year-old.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia represents an intriguing option at 10/1, having been a 33/1 outsider at the end pf April. The PSG winger has thrived for the club during the knockout stages of the Champions League, recording 10 goal contributions since the start of the last-16, which have helped fire the holders to another final.
Kylian Mbappeās odds have lengthened to 14/1 after Real Madridās Champions League elimination, meaning heās now highly likely to go without club silverware this summer. He could, however, still win the Champions League Golden Boot (if no one catches his 15-goal tally) and he also leads the race for the La Liga Golden Boot.
The Frenchmanās best chance could well come at this summerās World Cup where heāll be aiming to lift the famous golden trophy for the second time in eight years.
