Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has risen to the top of early Ballon d'Or 2026 rankings following Spain's World Cup victory, in which the teenage forward played a pivotal role. Yamal leads the standings ahead of Argentina's Lionel Messi in second and England striker Harry Kane in third, with 2025 winner Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé rounding out the top five. The Ballon d'Or (football's most prestigious individual annual award, voted on by journalists worldwide) will likely hinge on Yamal's continued performances for both club and country in the months ahead.