Race for the Ballon d'Or is heating up early

The race for the Ballon d’Or is already gathering pace, with Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane emerging as the early headline contenders to succeed last year’s winner, Ousmane Dembélé. Mbappé has been the most vocal, openly declaring his ambitions during a pre‑match press conference ahead of Paris Saint‑Germain’s clash with Inter Milan, backed strongly by his manager.

Yamal has taken a different route, letting his performances speak for him. At just eighteen, he is firmly in the conversation after leading Barcelona to a domestic double, though his quieter role at the World Cup may complicate his case.

Kane, meanwhile, enters the race on the strength of another prolific season for Bayern Munich. The European Golden Shoe winner is relying on his relentless scoring and Bayern’s dominance to bolster his candidacy. With contrasting profiles and no standout favourite, the competition promises one of the most open Ballon d’Or races in recent years.