The 2026 Ballon d’Or is one of the most unpredictable in years, with domestic performances and World Cup displays both being taken into account for the leading contenders.

However, there is no outstanding candidate to win the most prestigious individual award in world football. Lionel Messi and Rodri staked a serious claim with their World Cup performances, while Harry Kane and Michael Olise performed for both club and country across the year.

But who do the fans believe deserve the Golden Ball this year? Well, a fan vote carried out by L’Equipe after the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina showed there’s a clear favourite in their eyes.

Fan Vote Shows Who They Want to Win the Ballon d’Or

REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

Almost the entire vote was shared by 11 players. Jude Bellingham (0.5%) and Erling Haaland (1%) have the least chance of those names, sharing a small percentage of the fan vote. Bellingham netted seven goals as England finished third at the World Cup, while Haaland scored 58 in all competitions for club and country in the past season.

Michael Olise can perhaps feel a bit harshly treated here, as the Bayern Munich and France star finishes ninth in the fan vote. Despite breaking the assist record in a World Cup campaign (7), Olise has only been backed by 2.4%.

Likewise, Lionel Messi and Harry Kane share just 10% of the vote between them, despite being among the favourites in the eyes of some. Lamine Yamal, who is now a European and world champion, didn’t get much more support, with the Spain superstar just getting 7%.

Ahead of the teenager is a Paris Saint-Germain trio. Last year’s winner Ousmane Dembele (7.9%) and flying winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (9.8%) just missed out on a podium position for a surprise name.

Fabian Ruiz joined an exclusive club as one of the only players to ever win the Champions League and World Cup in the same season. He was a vital part of both PSG and Spain’s teams, too, so he maybe should be discussed more than he tends to be.

A staggering 48% is shared between the top two. Rodri, the 2024 winner and now a World Cup-winning captain, is the choice 16% would go for. But the Manchester City metronome is beaten in the poll by Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.

He’s now the all-time leading scorer at World Cup finals after sealing the Golden Boot with 10 more goals this summer. The 27-year-old only won the Supercopa de Espana, but still managed 44 goals for Los Blancos.

Statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 04-08-26.

Arsenal are now nearing a total agreement to sign Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes in the summer transfer window, according to David Ornstein.

Newcastle look set to lose yet another key player, with Guimaraes joining Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon in departing this summer.

The Gunners look set to benefit as they look to pull off their first big signing of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal have secured the signatures of Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier so far, but they are missing that high-profile marquee addition.

Guimaraes would certainly fit into that bracket, strengthening Arsenal’s midfield options.

There is little chance that Newcastle would have wanted to head into the summer thinking about selling Guimaraes, and it would be interesting to see how much they can recoup for him.

Arsenal close to Guimaraes agreement

via Reuters

According to The Athletic journalist Ornstein, Arsenal are on the verge of reaching a full agreement to sign Newcastle midfielder Guimaraes.

Ornstein claims that there is a desire among all parties involved to bring the situation to a close as soon as possible, and it is now on course for completion.

Brazilian international is awaiting permission to undergo a medical while he is currently in Spain with his Newcastle teammates.

Guimaraes replacing Norgaard at Arsenal

Guimaraes appears to be the replacement for Norgaard in the Arsenal squad this summer.

Premier League side Everton have agreed a deal to sign the Arsenal midfielder this summer for a fee in the region of £7 million.

Norgaard is set to undergo a medical at The Toffees this week, opening up a space in the squad for a new midfielder.

It’s certainly an upgrade for the Gunners, but it will come at a cost, with Newcastle likely to demand a huge fee for the Brazilian midfielder.

After winning the Premier League title, Arsenal will not want to be resting on what they’ve already built, and I’ll be looking to make a marquee signing this summer.

July 2026 was a damaging month for FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Following the widely criticised FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), and its subsequent withdrawal, confidence in the Swiss administrator crumbled away among the wider football community.

Unsurprisingly, it has led many to look forward. The governing body’s attempts to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors will likely have football federations and member associations thinking about potential opposing candidates, with the UK’s newly-elected Prime Minister among those calling for Infantino’s resignation.

But if the writing is on the wall for Infantino, when could a new president be elected, and how will that process unfold?

When is the Next FIFA Presidential Election?

FIFA president Gianni Infantino via REUTERS/Gareth Bumstead

FIFA presidential elections operate under a four-year cycle and take place at the FIFA Congress that follows the World Cup. The most recent FIFA Congress took place on April 30 in Vancouver, Canada, prior to the 2026 World Cup.

The next FIFA Congress, which will include the presidential election, will take place on March 18, 2027, in Rabat, Morocco. The African nation will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain. This latest achievement for Morocco continues to build on a highly successful period, following on from its hosting of the CAF Excellence Center initiatives and another deep run at the 2026 World Cup.

Deadline for FIFA Presidential Nominations

REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

The election process essentially lasts one year, from one FIFA Congress to the next. Infantino is well aware of this strategic timeline, announcing his intention to stand again at the Vancouver congress earlier this year.

The deadline to submit a formal nomination for the role ahead of the 2027 Congress is November 18, 2026. The deadline normally occurs roughly four months prior to the election, allowing candidates plenty of time to convince member associations of their presidential qualities.

How do Nominations Work?

REUTERS/Paul Childs

Whilst confidence in the current president may have changed, the nomination process has not.

Two criteria must be met to qualify as a presidential candidate:

1. Firstly, candidates must acquire written support from five member associations prior to the set November 18 deadline. Crucially, member associations can only back one candidate. Securing the confidence of five member associations can build early momentum for a successful campaign, especially if they are influential nations. But, of course, a lot more support will be required to secure the presidential seat.
2. Secondly, they must be able to prove that they have “played an active role in association football” in at least two of the five years preceding their presidential candidacy. This can be, for example, a role within a member association or a FIFA committee.

Once a nomination is submitted, the candidates are subjected to mandatory integrity and ineligibility checks. These are carried out by the independent FIFA Review Committee. Once approved by the Review Committee, the presidential candidates are announced by FIFA. This signals their eligibility to stand for election at the next FIFA Congress.