With the 2025/26 season domestic now over, it’s time to turn attention to the World Cup. Not only will that tournament reveal the greatest footballing nation on the planet, but it will also give a big indication as to who is the best individual in the game right now.

Indeed, the race for the Ballon d’Or is heating up, and current holder Ousmane Dembele helped his chances of securing back-to-back awards after winning the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain. That said, he’s not quite been in blistering form at all moments this season, and an indifferent World Cup could open up the chance for someone else to claim the prize.

On that front, England forward Harry Kane has to be among the favourites. The Bayern Munich star certainly seems to think so, although he has named one other man as a strong rival in 2026.

Kane Backs Himself for 2026 Ballon d’Or

In an interview with L’Equipe, via ESPN, the 32-year-old said that he’s ‘among the favourites’ for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after enjoying a fine season in Germany. It’s hard to argue with Kane on that front. After all, he has won the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, while managing 61 goals and seven assists in 51 games. He explained:

That is a big ‘if’ though, as England have not won the World Cup since 1966. That said, with Kane as captain, they’ve made the finals of the last two European Championships and will feel confident of going deep into the tournament this summer.

Kane did, however, accept there were others who could challenge him for the Ballon d’Or in 2026. Without naming names, he referenced players in the Champions League final, presumably meaning Demebele, Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of PSG – and possibly even Arsenal and England’s Declan Rice.

He then specially named Michael Olise as another contender:

Olise has been in scintillating form at Bayern as well in 2025/26, bagging 31 assists and a further 22 goals in 52 club games. Interestingly enough, former Bayern teammate Thomas Muller has also named Kane and Olise as two front-runners for the award, although he suggested the Frenchman is more likely to win it due to his ‘artistic’ style. He explained:

“As far as the Ballon d’Or is concerned, the ‘artistic element’ is taken into account. Generally, I see Harry as the more important player — but when it comes to the vote for the World’s Best Player, it’s more for players like Michael, with this dance-like, artistic, ease, magic quality, you can’t learn that.”

With the ceremony to be held in London for the first time ever, on 26 October 2026, it certainly would be a suitable location for Kane or Olise to scoop the award – as both men were born in the English capital.

Ederson, who is poised to become Manchester United’s first summer signing, could be handed a rare squad number that only eight players have worn before at Old Trafford.

United have agreed to pay Italian side Atalanta an initial €40.5 million for the 26-year-old, who has been capped three times by the Brazil national team. Ederson will sign a four-year deal with the Red Devils once he’s completed a medical. The Athletic’s David Ornstein claims the deal is set to be finalised in early July.

Ederson is not part of Brazil’s 26-man World Cup squad after failing to make the cut, despite being named on Carlo Ancelotti’s long list of 55 players.

South American football expert Tim Vickery has compared Ederson to Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes, writing for BBC Sport: “Ederson would seem to have plenty to add to United, who are looking to bolster their midfield options.

“His Brazilian compatriot Casemiro is leaving the Red Devils – and Manuel Ugarte could follow. Ederson offers more on the ball than the Uruguayan and is more dynamic around the field.

“He is a midfielder in the mould of Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes. After three splendid seasons in Italy with Atalanta, Ederson would seem overdue for a move – and may blame his final season in Serie A for missing out on the World Cup.”

Ederson to be Denied ‘Dream’ Man Utd Shirt Number

Ederson is set to be denied his ‘dream’ shirt number once he completes his move to Man Utd, according to the Mirror.

The report highlights how Ederson currently wears No. 13 for Atalanta, but that number is occupied at Old Trafford by the versatile Patrick Dorgu.

Ederson previously wore the No. 15 shirt with Brazilian sides Corinthians and Cruzeiro, but that number is also taken at the Theatre of Dreams. French defender Leny Yoro was assigned 15 as his squad number following his move from Lille in 2024.

While 14 and 17 are currently vacant, Ederson could instead choose to wear 40 – the number he began his playing career with.

Nobody has managed to make the No. 40 shirt their own at Old Trafford. A host of talented youngsters who failed to make the grade at United have previously donned the squad number including Daniel Nardiello, Jonathan Spector, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Adam Eckersley.

Since then, the number 40 shirt has been exclusively worn by reserve goalkeepers. Ben Amos was first before Joel Pereira took it, followed by Matej Kovar. Former Czech Republic international Radek Vítek, who spent last season on loan at Championship side Bristol City, occupied No. 40 most recently.

Ederson could be hoping to buck the trend by becoming Manchester United’s first-ever star player wearing No. 40.

Manchester United’s summer transfer priority is a rebuild of their midfield, but they are also considering additions in other positions on the pitch too.

With Casemiro gone and an expectation that Manuel Ugarte follows him through the Old Trafford exit door, Man United chiefs are ready to sanction moves for up to three new players in centre of the pitch.

One of those looks increasingly likely to be Atalanta midfielder Ederson, with Andy Mitten expecting a deal for the Brazilian to be completed in the next 24-48 hours.

The 26-year-old won’t be the last arrival either, with lots of talk around West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni as links around Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba have gone quiet.

Elsewhere on the pitch, United will look to bring in a new goalkeeper to compete with Senne Lammens if Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir leave the club, while Luke Shaw looks to need more competition in the left-back spot too.

GIVEMESPORT sources believe that United will look for a left-sided attacker, with interest in Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa likely to ramp up now Michael Carrick has been confirmed as the permanent manager.

Red Devils recruiters could also look at a new striker if Joshua Zirkzee leaves the club.

Man United Line Up ‘Dream’ Victor Osimhen Transfer

According to CaughtOffside, United have five strikers on their radar including Galatasaray centre-forward Victor Osimhen, who they view as their ‘dream’ summer signing for the position.

The Red Devils are looking to provide more depth and a different profile to Benjamin Sesko in attack, and they believe that the Nigeria international would bring goals, pace, power and presence in the number 9 position at Old Trafford.

Osimhen has impressed in Turkey with Galatasaray, scoring 59 goals in 74 games for the Super Lig giants.

Bruno Fernandes Would Love Osimhen Transfer

Fernandes outlined his reputation as an assist king after breaking the record for the most (21) in a Premier League season this term.

The United captain loves setting up his teammates and we saw in the final few matches of the season that chances were being spurned by the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, that could have boosted his tally even further.

The Portugal international would have no such issues with Osimhen, who continues to enhance his own reputation as a goal machine in Turkey, with one journalist describing him as being ‘one of the best strikers of this century’.

The 27-year-old should be in the prime years of his career and his outlay suggests he is, with 22 goals in 33 games for Galatasaray this term, following on the back of netting 76 times in 133 outings for Napoli previously.

Not only does Osimhen know where the goal is, he isn’t afraid to throw his tall frame around and be a physical nuisance to opposition defenders too.

The Nigerian has that penalty box instinct that is so vital for a goalscorer, and Bruno would surely thrive off of his positioning and movement, with many goals expected to follow.

The Red Devils will face difficulties trying to prise him away from Gala though, who will be determined to keep hold of their star man.