Argentina captain Lionel Messi has been named the main favorite for the Ballon d'Or following the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine's leadership is due to his phenomenal performance at the current mundial. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The main contender for the award has scored six goals in the tournament so far. Betting on Messi's victory is available at odds of 4.00.
The second favorite for the Ballon d'Or is Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, who has four goals and two assists after the group stage. Betting on his success is available at odds of 5.00.
The top three most likely contenders are rounded out by Mbappé's compatriot Michael Olise, whose victory is estimated at odds of 7.00.
It is worth noting that Lionel Messi has eight Ballon d'Or awards. This is an absolute record in football history. He won this prestigious award in the following years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Earlier, Kursiv reported that the supercomputer of the analytical company Opta Analyst named the French national team as the main favorite for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.