2026 Ballon d'Or winner odds: Harry Kane the current favourite

Harry Kane the early favourite

Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane's goalscoring exploits for club and country across 2026 have propelled him to the front of the 2026 Ballon d'Or outright winner market, with yet another brace for England - which made him his nation's all-time leading scorer at World Cups - earning him more records and proving his value in the biggest moments.

The former Premier League forward faces stern competition from global sensation Kylian Mbappe, however, who has his sights set on becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history. At 27 years old, Mbappe is entering his prime years now, and his mouthwatering performances on the world stage for both Real Madrid and France certainly make him a leading contender to win the Ballon d'Or - especially if he guides his nation to another World Cup triumph.

Behind him, 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele completes the top three, with the PSG forward proving influential in his club winning back-to-back Champions Leagues. A World Cup hat-trick against Norway also saw Dembele prove his credentials once again, as the 29-year-old looks to become just the eighth man to win consecutive Ballon d'Ors.

Michael Olise is next in line according to Ladbrokes' latest odds, with the Frenchman lighting up the 2026 World Cup. His haul of assists is seeing him close in on Lionel Messi's record for the most in a single season, and with the likes of Mbappe and Dembele finishing the chances, it wouldn't surprise many people to see him break it - which could give his Ballon d'Or chances a huge boost.

Argentina icon Lionel Messi rounds off the top five favourites, with the eight-time winner looking to extend his record with a ninth Ballon d'Or, adding another trophy to an already bursting cabinet. The Inter Miami man has been providing the magic for Argentina once again at the World Cup, and if he leads his nation to back-to-back triumphs, his odds are likely to be slashed even further.

Lamine Yamal leads the chasing pack

Outside of the top five, Lamine Yamal is the only other player with odds shorter than 10/1 to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with the Barcelona and Spain youngster already emerging as one of the world's greatest players. Consistently delivering in the Champions League, Yamal looks destined to get his hands on the award one day, and if he continues his excellent form into the second half of 2026, there's every chance this year could be his year.

Behind Yamal, Paris Saint-Germain duo Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are given an outside chance of winning football's greatest individual award thanks to their huge contributions to PSG's Champions League win, while Declan Rice is also tipped to be a contender after helping Arsenal win a first Premier League title for more than 20 years.

Cristiano Ronaldo completes the top 10, with the 41-year-old looking to sign off on the ultimate high by claiming his sixth Ballon d'Or.

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All odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.