World Cup 2026 Golden Ball Rankings: Messi Tops Mbappe and Olise as Argentina and France Shine

The 2026 World Cup is well underway across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, with players vying not only for their teams but also for the prestigious Golden Ball award. Lionel Messi currently leads the pack, having scored all five of Argentina’s goals so far. Close behind are Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, who have impressed with their performances for France.

The Golden Ball recognizes more than just scoring; media representatives vote on the player who has made the biggest overall impact throughout the tournament. Past winners include legends such as Paolo Rossi, Diego Maradona, Ronaldo, Oliver Kahn, and Zinedine Zidane, alongside active stars like Lionel Messi and Luka Modric. Messi, the only player to win the award twice consecutively (2014 and 2022), aims to secure a third title in a row. Other hopefuls include Mbappe, 2022 runner-up, Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal, and England’s captain Harry Kane.

At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to add the Golden Ball to his accolades by guiding Portugal deep into the tournament. Meanwhile, Brazil looks to Vinicius Junior and Raphinha to help end a 24-year World Cup drought. With 48 teams competing, surprises could emerge from any corner.

Top Golden Ball Candidates

• Cody Gakpo (Netherlands): Despite a tough club season, Gakpo has been crucial for the Dutch attack. After a lively but scoreless debut against Japan, he was key in the win over Sweden, assisting early and scoring twice within ten minutes in the second half.
• Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): Spain struggled initially, but Oyarzabal showed persistence, firing multiple attempts including four headers against Cape Verde. He found success against Saudi Arabia by setting up Lamine Yamal and scoring two quick goals himself.
• Alexander Isak (Sweden): Isak shone alongside Viktor Gyokeres, scoring early against Tunisia and assisting in a 5-1 victory. Despite a heavy loss to Netherlands, his precise pass set up a consolation goal.
• Harry Kane (England): With 61 goals in 51 Bayern Munich matches last season, Kane remains a threat. He scored twice against Croatia but missed a late chance in a goalless draw with Ghana, drawing some criticism.
• Denis Undav (Germany): Coming off the bench, Undav quickly influenced games, assisting twice and scoring once versus Curacao, then netting both equalizer and winner in stoppage time against Ivory Coast to secure Germany’s group lead.
• Vinicius Jr (Brazil): As Neymar recovers and Raphinha sits out injured, Vinicius has led Brazil with Man of the Match performances in every group game, scoring against Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland.
• Erling Haaland (Norway): Haaland announced himself with goals against Iraq and Senegal, earning Man of the Match honors and propelling Norway to a group decider against France.
• Michael Olise (France): While Mbappe grabs headlines for goals, Olise captivates with pace, control, and creative passing. He assisted Mbappe’s opener against Senegal and Iraq and provided the final pass for Dembele’s goal, winning Man of the Match in the first game.
• Kylian Mbappe (France): Already among the greats with multiple medals and a scoring record matching Pele, Mbappe started strong by scoring twice in the opening match and continued his deadly form alongside Olise, helping France dominate their group.
• Lionel Messi (Argentina): Still hungry at 39, Messi began the tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria, becoming joint top World Cup scorer with 16 goals, then added two more against Austria, setting a new record while fueling Argentina's campaign.