LONDON, United Kingdom – Harry Kane has claimed the 2026 Ballon d’Or, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi in a ranking that places the England captain at the summit of world football.
Mbappé finished second, while Barcelona teenager Yamal took third place. Spanish midfielder Rodri was fourth, with Messi completing the top five at 39.
Kane’s victory puts him ahead of some of the most prominent names in modern football, including prolific goalscorers, established champions and emerging stars.
Ousmane Dembélé finished seventh, behind Georgia international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in sixth. Erling Haaland placed eighth, followed by Michael Olise in ninth and Fabián Ruiz in tenth.
Jude Bellingham finished 11th, with Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí 12th. Achraf Hakimi was 13th, Vitinha 14th and Declan Rice 15th.
Vinícius Júnior, meanwhile, placed 17th, while Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes finished 27th. Senegal forward Sadio Mané shared 29th place in the published list.
Full 2026 Ballon d’Or Rankings
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Kane |
| 2 | Kylian Mbappé |
| 3 | Lamine Yamal |
| 4 | Rodri |
| 5 | Lionel Messi |
| 6 | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia |
| 7 | Ousmane Dembélé |
| 8 | Erling Haaland |
| 9 | Michael Olise |
| 10 | Fabián Ruiz |
| 11 | Jude Bellingham |
| 12 | Pau Cubarsí |
| 13 | Achraf Hakimi |
| 14 | Vitinha |
| 15 | Declan Rice |
| 16 | Ferran Torres |
| 17 | Vinícius Júnior |
| 18 | Marc Cucurella |
| 19 | João Neves |
| 20 | Willian Pacho |
| 21 | Gabriel |
| 22 | Lautaro Martínez |
| 23 | Bruno Mendes |
| 24 | Luis Díaz |
| 25 | Marquinhos |
| 26 | Dayot Upamecano |
| 27 | Bruno Fernandes |
| 28 | Julián Quiñones |
| 29 (joint) | William Saliba |
| 29 (joint) | Sadio Mané |
Messi Finishes Fifth as Kane Takes the Crown
Messi’s fifth-place finish adds another entry to the Argentine’s remarkable Ballon d’Or history. Despite his record eight victories, he was unable to challenge for the top spot in 2026.
Mbappé and Yamal also fell short of the title, finishing second and third respectively, while Kane emerged as the winner.
The published rankings feature players from several of Europe’s biggest clubs, reflecting the competition for individual recognition across domestic leagues and international football.
