World Cup 2026 Golden Ball Power Rankings: Lionel Messi leads the pack as Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise run the show for France

Jude Bellingham famously bellowed “who else” when helping to keep England in the hunt for continental glory at Euro 2024. Despite the odd question being asked of his starting berth in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, the Real Madrid midfielder remains a man for the big occasion.

He proved as much when firing the Three Lions back in front during their testing World Cup opener against Croatia, before breaking the deadlock against Panama in New Jersey to help secure top spot in Group L.

Mexico midfielder Julian Quinones has been the heartbeat of El Tri's march to the last-16 of the World Cup. It was he who got the campaign up and running with a goal nine minutes into the opening game against South Africa. He followed that up with another against Czech Republic as Mexico won the group, but his finest display came in the next round when he netted the opener and then set up another to beat Ecuador 2-0 in the last-32.

Bayern Munich can count themselves lucky they had already wrapped up a €50m agreement to sign Ismael Saibari from PSV before the World Cup began. The Morocco international has surely added a few million euros to his true value with his starring role in each match. It was the 25-year-old who charged towards goal before blasting beyond Alisson to open the scoring against Brazil; it was he who devastated Scotland just two minutes in to ensure they progressed; it was he who pulled them level for the second time and on course for a win against Haiti; and it was he who fired home the decisive penalty as they knocked out Netherlands after all hope had seemed lost. Who can deny it? Bayern have landed a gem.

With Neymar working his way back to full fitness and Raphinha ruled out through a devastating injury, Brazil need Vinicius Junior to step up and lead the Selecao's quest to end their 24-year wait for a World Cup trophy. The Real Madrid attacker was crowned Man of the Match in all three group stage matches, scoring vital goals against Morocco, Haiti and Scotland. He was unable to find the net in a narrow win in the next round, but was a lively presence in Japan's box, getting two shots on target and creating two chances as the Selecao ran their opponents ragged in the second-half before they sealed victory right at the end.

Erling Haaland announced himself on the World Cup stage with a bang. The Norway striker had his name on the scoresheet within 30 minutes of his side's opener against Iraq and then popped up to restore their lead just before half-time in a tough battle against the Middle Eastern nation.

Norway went on to win 4-1, with the Manchester City forward taking home the Man of the Match award, and his eye for goal was on display again as he scored twice in a 3-2 win against Senegal. He popped up again with the vital winner as Norway beat Ivory Coast 2-1 to survive the round of 32.

Ousmane Dembele’s exploits in back-to-back Champions League triumphs for Paris Saint-Germain have made him a Ballon d’Or winner. He also helped France to global glory in 2018. It is in 2026, however, that he is truly illuminating the grandest of international stages.

Having never previously found the target at FIFA’s flagship event, the versatile PSG forward opened his account in a 3-0 victory over Iraq. He then landed himself the match ball in a meeting with Norway as a first-half hat-trick sent Les Bleus surging into the last-32, where he set up Kylian Mbappe for his first goal against Sweden.

With a whopping 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich last season, European Golden Shoe winner Harry Kane will strike fear into any defence he comes across in this competition.

Kane has often faced allegations of not living up to the big occasion for England, but he has shown that he is built for the task at this competition. His double against Croatia was crucial to their 4-2 win and the Panama goal wrapped up an important win before he rescued the Three Lions from last-32 elimination against Congo DR with a fantastic double in the final 15 minutes.

Kane may have got the lion's share of the goals in Bayern Munich's blistering campaign, but it was Michael Olise who captured the hearts of many fans. The Bundesliga player of the year's electrifying pace, immense control and fantastic finishing ability saw him net 20 goals and register 25 assists across the German top-flight and Champions League, where Bayern reached the semi-finals.

A similar dynamic is at play in the France squad, with Mbappe being heralded for his goals but Olise earning plaudits for his stunning work around the box. His pinpoint pass set up Mbappe to open the scoring against Senegal in the first game, and his excellent use of the ball saw him named FIFA's Man of the Match in the 3-1 win.

He now has five assists to his name at the World Cup having since set up two goals for Mbappe and one each for Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola.

When you consider that the 27-year-old Kylian Mbappe had both gold and silver medals under his belt and the same goal record as Brazil icon Pele (12 in 14 games) heading into the tournament, his status as a World Cup great was already undeniable.

Mbappe is seemingly out to become the best ever player on this stage, though, having moved ahead of the Brazilian icon in his first game in the United States, scoring twice to help fire Les Bleus to a 3-1 win.

He was deadly against Senegal thanks to his telepathic connection with Olise, which was on display again as he scored his first of two in a 3-0 victory against Iraq, before helping Ousmane Dembele net a memorable hat-trick in a 4-1 demolition of Norway.

France came up against Sweden in the last-32 and it was Mbappe who got them over the line. After seeing an early opener ruled out, he scored the first and third goals to ensure Les Bleus progress.

Now he's just getting greedy! Lionel Messi has won it all in his career - most of it on more than one occasion - and is well aware of what it takes to win the Golden Ball. He already has two in his trophy cabinet and with his 39th birthday coming up during the World Cup, it is a testament to his longevity that he remains a favourite yet again.

The Argentine sensation, who beat Mbappe to the prize four years ago, started the 2026 edition with a hat-trick against Algeria as Argentina ran out 3-0 winners in their first game.

The treble made him the World Cup's joint-top scorer of all-time with 16 and he followed that up by setting a new record with his double against Austria on matchday two. The South American GOAT then stepped off the bench to fire in a free-kick against Jordan and become the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.