Who should win the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or? Writers make their picks
Quick summary
The Athletic's writers give their opinions on who deserves to win the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or, following the announcement of the official shortlist.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceFrom Champions League winners and World Cup stars to enigmatic strikers who have destroyed defences, six of our writers have their say
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What happened
Following the release of the 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist, The Athletic's panel of football writers share their personal picks for who should claim the prestigious individual award. The piece reflects the diversity of opinions in evaluating the calendar year's standout performers, weighing factors such as club success, individual brilliance, and major tournament performances. As the ceremony approaches, the discussion highlights how subjective the voting remains even with a defined shortlist of candidates.
Chance analysis
Ballon d'Or debates are part of football's annual rhythm, and this kind of writers' roundtable is a useful snapshot of where the conversation stands as the ceremony nears. The fact that multiple names are being floated suggests a wide-open race rather than a runaway favorite, which itself tells a story about how the 2025-26 season unfolded across Europe's top leagues. For readers, the value is less in any single pick and more in the reasoning — which performances, moments, and silverware the panel is weighting most heavily.
No direct impact on teams or upcoming matches; the article is editorial commentary on an individual award.