The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or, the annual football award presented by France Football to the world’s best player, is set to be decided as voting has now closed. The award, first given in 1956, is based on individual performance, character, team success, and fair play. In addition to the men’s Ballon d’Or, twelve other honors, including the Women’s Ballon d’Or and the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper, will also be distributed.
An international panel of football journalists, each representing one of FIFA’s top 100-ranked nations, voted by ranking ten players selected from a 30-player shortlist. This shortlist was compiled by France Football’s editorial team, along with editors from L’Équipe, a previous juror, and UEFA ambassadors Luís Figo and Fabio Capello. The winner is determined by the highest aggregate points from the jurors’ ranked choices.
This year’s shortlist features 30 players from 12 countries, representing as many clubs. Among the nominees, Harry Kane emerges as the clear favorite among bookmakers and many analysts. If he wins, he will become the first English player to claim the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001. Kane's move to Bayern Munich in 2023 has seen him reach extraordinary scoring milestones, including 100 Bundesliga goals in just 98 appearances and a total of 73 goals across all competitions last season—36 in the German league, 14 in the Champions League, and six at the World Cup. His achievements also include securing a second consecutive Bundesliga title and reaching the semi-finals of both the Champions League and the World Cup with England.
Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning European champions, have the highest number of nominees with nine, including last year’s winner Ousmane Dembélé. Spain, who won the recent World Cup, have the most representatives among the candidates. Notably, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal is considered the third favorite behind Kane and Kylian Mbappé. A victory for Yamal would make him the youngest ever recipient of the award, surpassing Brazil’s Ronaldo, who won at age 21 in 1997. The Premier League is represented by five players: Arsenal’s Declan Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi, who has won eight Ballon d’Or titles and currently plays for Inter Miami, remains an outside contender for a record-extending ninth win.
Expert opinions largely align on Kane as the frontrunner, emphasizing his prolific scoring and overall impact for club and country. Some commentators highlight Kane’s evolution into a complete player, citing his strong goal tally and his influence in key matches. Others note the emerging talent of Lamine Yamal and the World Cup performances of Mbappé as compelling cases, though they question whether either has yet reached the peak needed to claim the award this year.
There is debate among analysts regarding the importance of individual accolades in a team sport, with some suggesting that the Ballon d’Or tends to reward individual brilliance over collective achievements. A few experts have pointed to other PSG players like Vitinha and Fabián Ruiz for their understated but effective contributions that might go unnoticed in such awards.
Despite some differing perspectives, the prevailing consensus places Harry Kane at the top, with Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé close behind. The announcement is expected to take place in London, marking a significant moment in a highly competitive year for world football.