World Cup Golden Ball predictions: Who will win in 2026?

Seth Vertelney, USA TODAYTue, June 9, 2026 at 7:51 PM UTC

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In addition to the ultimate prize at the 2026 World Cup, there will be individual awards up for grabs.

Perhaps the biggest prize, other than the World Cup itself, is the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament's best player.

First awarded in 1982, some of the sport's biggest legends have earned the prize, most recently Lionel Messi in 2022. Messi is the only player to win the award twice, having also done so in 2014 when Argentina lost to Germany in the final.

But who will win in 2026? Here are our staff's predictions.

Harry Kane - England

The Three Lions' all-time leading scorer, Kane has caught flack through the years for his performances in the clutch, but the 32-year-old is on top of his game and will be England's most influential player in North America. - Jesse Yomtov

Michael Olise - France

Let's go with one of Kane's club teammates. Kylian Mbappe may get most of the French headlines, but Olise is equally lethal. He had 15 goals and 20 assists this past Bundesliga season and is a bag of tricks. - Matt Glenesk

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Lionel Messi- Argentina

Whether it comes in a title defense or a losing effort, the name recognition Messi has combined with a strong showing from the Albiceleste will allow a repeat in the individual award. - Jon Arnold

Michael Olise - France

Defenses will have to pay attention to Olise's teammates, which could open up space for the Bayern star to carve open opponents. Equally adept at scoring or assisting, Olise is a dark horse contender for the Golden Ball at his first World Cup. - Seth Vertelney

Harry Kane - England

Kane is coming off the most prolific goal-scoring campaign of his career, scoring 61 goals in 51 matches across all competitions for Bayern Munich. Expect to see him carry over that club success for his country. - Jim Reineking

Lamine Yamal - Spain

The 18-year-old winger looks to be healthy for the tournament after a hamstring injury. His ability to get by defenders and find the goal with his dangerous left foot will cause all sorts of problems for defenses as Spain makes a deep run. - Erick Smith

Kylian Mbappe - France

Mbappé is poised to have another incredible tournament. He's in that sweet spot of experience with some youth left. After already winning the Best Young Player trophy in 2018 and Golden Boot in 2022, he will prove he can do it all and become the first player to capture all three World Cup awards. - Victoria Hernandez

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup Golden Ball predictions

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