Ballon d’Or 2026 odds: Could Harry Kane win the coveted award? | OneFootball

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is really heating up as the club season reaches its final stage and, with the World Cup still to come this summer, the main contenders have everything to play for as they battle it out for football’s top individual prize.

Since 2022, the Ballon d’Or has been based on seasonal performance rather than the calendar year, placing even greater emphasis on the run-in, with the 2026 award show set for September 21st.

Last year we witnessed Ousmane Dembele join icons like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Zinedine Zidane in lifting the prestigious prize – but who currently finds themselves in contention to win the 2026 gong?

Check out the latest Ballon d’Or odds below:

Find the latest 2026 Ballon d’Or odds here:

Who are the favourites for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

Harry Kane

Harry Kane has surged to 9/4 favouritism for the 2026 Ballon d’Or as he looks to become the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001 (back when only European players won the award).

Kane’s goal in Bayern Munich’s thrilling 4-3 Champions League win against Real Madrid soared his titanic tally to 50 goals in all competitions for this season, including 16 in his last 12 games.

He’s also cruising towards a third straight Bundesliga Golden Boot with 31 goals and counting – currently 13 clear of the chasing pack – and is hunting down Kylian Mbappe in the Champions League scoring charts: Kane (12) is three behind and through to the semi-finals, while Mbappe (15) can no longer add to his tally.

Kane has always scored goals, but this season he could back this up with a stunning Champions League, Bundesliga, and DFB-Pokal treble. Add in the chance to lead England to glory at the World Cup this summer, and it’s no surprise to see him top the betting right now.

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal is widely tipped as a future multiple Ballon d’Or winner and 2026 could be the year he scoops his maiden accolade. Aged just 18, last year’s runner-up is priced at 4/1 in the betting.

Despite Barcelona’s Champions League exit, Yamal continues to produce remarkable numbers, reaching 100 goal involvements in just 150 appearances for the club following his goal against Atletico Madrid. This season alone, he’s contributed 41 goals and assists in 44 games.

While the Champions League quarter-final disappointment will sting, Yamal’s Barcelona are honing in on the league title to add to their Supercopa de Espana success. Yamal will then turn his focus to the international stage, as he aims to propel Spain to World Cup glory, just as he did at Euro 2024 as a 16-year-old.

Michael Olise

Michael Olise is simply a joy to watch, elevating his game to new heights since his summer switch from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich, where he’s accumulated a whopping 47 goal involvements in 42 games across three different competitions.

The Frenchman’s panache and creativity has been off the charts, with 29 assists putting him just three shy of the single-season record in Europe’s top five leagues, which is currently shared by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Xavi, and Lionel Messi (32). On current form, he could smash this.

Like teammate Harry Kane, Olise is a key figure in Bayern’s push for a treble, while he too also harbours ambitions of World Cup success with France this summer. Now priced at 9/2 – cut from 16/1 this week – he’s rapidly becoming one of the standout picks in the Ballon d’Or race.

Declan Rice

Declan Rice has surged into the Ballon d’Or conversation, shortening dramatically from a 40/1 outsider in November to 6/1 with Bet365.

The midfielder has been a central cog in Arsenal’s campaign. While the club’s Quadruple, and then treble, dreams were crushed following domestic cup defeats, they do remain favourites for the Premier League title and have reached the Champions League semi-finals.

If Rice, who is the favourite to win the Premier League Player of the Year, can drive Arsenal to a first league crown since 2003-04, and potentially help deliver a first-ever Champions League triumph, he’ll be firmly in contention. Add in the prospect of a major international impact with England this summer, and his Ballon d’Or case only strengthens.

Who else is in the mix?

Kylian Mbappe’s odds lengthened a touch to 8/1 after Real Madrid’s Champions League elimination, meaning he’s now highly likely to go without club silverware this summer. He could, however, still win the Champions League Golden Boot (if no one catches his 15-goal tally) and he also leads the race for the La Liga Golden Boot. The Frenchman’s best chance could well come at this summer’s World Cup where he’ll be aiming to lift the famous golden trophy for the second time in eight years.

2025 Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele is out at 20/1 to become the first back-to-back winner since Lionel Messi in 2021. He’s unfortunately missed parts of the season to injury, but showed just what he is capable of with a superb brace in PSG’s win at Anfield.

Real Madrid and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior is also a 20/1 shot, with Man City’s goal machine Erling Haaland at 25/1, followed by PSG’s Ferreira Vitinha, who finished third last year.