Harry Kane remains the favourite for the 2026 Ballon d'Or after the 30-name shortlist for the men's award was confirmed following the World Cup.
Spain's triumph over Argentina in the final is expected to bode well for 2024 winner Rodri and Lamine Yamal, who will look to start the new club season with strong performances to complement their part in winning the World Cup.
Kane's case rests on a sublime goalscoring campaign with Bayern Munich and a series of important interventions at the World Cup with England. The question is whether he can replicate that form in the early months of 2026/27 before October's ceremony.
Lionel Messi, 39, fired eight goals to propel Argentina to the final and briefly became the competition's all-time top goalscorer until he was eclipsed by Kylian Mbappe. Messi's retirement from international football, announced following the death of his father, Jorge, underlines that this is now his final chance to win another Ballon d'Or.
Mbappe's Golden Boot, with 10 goals in North America, saw him pass first Miroslav Klose and then Messi as the tournament's all-time record goalscorer.