With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
There are a number of iconic left wingers plying their trade at the very highest level, but who is the best of the bunch? With Luis Diaz in the frame, former Bayern Munich star Dietmar Hamann has answered that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL. He sees Paris Saint-Germain enigma Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior forming part of that conversation.
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr has sent a defiant message to the rest of Europe, insisting that the Spanish giants are destined to reclaim their continental crown this season. After back-to-back disappointments in the knockout stages, the Brazilian forward is adamant that the trophy is returning to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The long-standing transfer saga involving Vinicius Junior and Real Madrid finally reached its conclusion this summer, ending speculation that the Brazilian superstar could move to the Premier League or Ligue 1. Despite persistent interest from the likes of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, the winger opted to commit his long-term future to the Santiago Bernabeu.
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