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The World Cup is nearing its end, with a final between Spain and either England or Argentina on the horizon. Players of each team will have one eye on the trophy, but a select few will also have one eye on the tournament’s Golden Ball.
Unofficially first awarded to Mario Kempes in 1978 before being confirmed as a prize at the 1982 competition, the award commemorates the best player in each edition of the World Cup. Only one player, Lionel Messi, has ever managed to win the prize more than once, although he could potentially end his Argentina career as a three-time winner of the prize if things fall his way.
How, though, do players even get considered for the award? Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Golden Ball award, and who the frontrunners for the prize are.
How the Golden Ball shortlist and winner is decided
Throughout the tournament, a FIFA Technical Study Group is responsible for collecting the names of players who they believe deserve to be in with a chance of winning the Golden Ball. Those names are then compiled into a list and then put to media representatives.
This panel will then vote to decide who the winner is, while the two runners-up with the most votes will receive the Silver and Bronze Ball awards. 10 different players have managed to officially win the prize since 1982, including Diego Maradona in 1986 and Zinédine Zidane in 2006.
Lionel Messi the favorite in 2026
Predicting the winner of the Golden Ball is one of the most popular markets across Goal.com’s best betting sites in Nigeria, and plenty of fans will continue to do so until the result is confirmed. Many will likely choose Lionel Messi, who has been at his impressive best throughout Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
Despite being 39 years old, he has enjoyed his best-ever tournament from a goalscoring perspective, managing eight goals prior to the semi-finals. He also created 21 chances in the same number of games, highlighting how great an impact he is still having in all areas.
Up until the semi-finals, it had appeared to be a two-horse race between Messi and Kylian Mbappé, who had been equally destructive for France. But Les Bleus’ elimination has seen his odds of winning the award lengthen dramatically. He’s not yet out of the race, proven by how Diego Forlán managed to win the award in 2010 despite Uruguay exiting in the semi-finals, but it makes the likelihood smaller.
Who are the outside contenders?
Unsurprisingly, Spanish players are regarded as being the greatest threat to Messi’s third Golden Ball. Rodri has snuck into the conversation after a brilliant performance against France in the semi-finals, although he has gone about his business quietly throughout the tournament, managing the highest passing accuracy throughout the competition (93%) while also averaging three tackles per game.
England’s Jude Bellingham is a candidate too, after a fantastic run to the semi-finals where he scored braces against Mexico and then Norway. Lamine Yamal also cannot be completely ruled out just yet, as he is capable of producing a moment of magic that could sway the final and, therefore, the voters’ final decision.
