Home of football statistics and historyWith Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the veteran stage of their respective careers, the door is open for other players to win the Ballon d’Or award.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri scooped the prize in 2024 and another top star will add their name to the roll of honour when this year’s award is announced.
Some fans may wish to immortalise the winner in a unique way and the personalised Mini Me football doll cushion is a great way to go about it.
A football Mini Me with your photo is a creative way for fans to honour their favourite football stars and demonstrate their passion for the sport.
Supporters who immortalise the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner in this manner could even use this as a start point to create a collection that grows year-on-year.
With that in mind, read on as we look at which players could be in contention to win the 2026 award, starting with a youngster who looks destined for greatness.
Lamine Yamal – Barcelona & Spain
No player has ever won the Ballon d’Or before their 21st birthday, but Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has plenty of time to buck that trend.
The teenager is in contention to win the 2025 award, but the club’s failure to win the Champions League may scupper his hopes of claiming the prize.
However, 2026 could be the year Yamal creates history. He will not only be expected to be a leading light for Barcelona, but will be one of Spain’s big-hitters at the World Cup.
Yamal was superb for his country at the 2024 European Championship. If he wins silverware with Barcelona and Spain, he would be a big favourite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Kylian Mbappe – Real Madrid & France
Former Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe will head into the 2025/26 with a point to prove after enduring a troubled start to life with Real Madrid.
He will have been niggled by the sight of PSG lifting the Champions League trophy for the first time, particularly as Madrid failed to win a trophy last season.
Mbappe and Madrid will be eager to set the record straight, and a strong season domestically and in Europe would boost his hopes of winning the Ballon d’Or.
Success with France at the 2026 World Cup would be the cherry on the cake for Mbappe and put him in pole position to claim the prestigious individual prize.
Ousmane Dembele – Paris Saint-Germain & France
It would be fair to say that Ousmane Dembele has taken time to live up to expectations, but 2024/25 was the season he truly announced himself to the world.
With Mbappe out of the equation at PSG, the 28-year-old stepped things up to become a driving force in the team’s stunning treble success.
Dembele proved he was a man for the big occasion with crucial goals against Liverpool and Arsenal in the Champions League. He also bagged two assists in the final.
If he repeats those heroics next season and shines for France at the World Cup, he would be a strong contender to win the Ballon d’Or.
Florian Wirtz – Liverpool & Germany
Former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Florian Wirtz is arguably a left-field option as a potential Ballon d’Or winner, but he could force his way into the conversation.
Wirtz finished 12th in 2024 after helping Leverkusen win the double in Germany, but he is not in the running to claim the prize this year.
However, his big-money move to Liverpool will place him firmly in the spotlight. If he delivers for the Reds, winning the Ballon d’Or is possible.
His claims would grow even stronger if he also helped Germany win the World Cup.
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