2026 World Cup may decide Ballon d'Or race, says Dembélé

The 2026 Ballon d'Or race may be settled at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as the leading candidates Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland each sit on seven goals, while Michael Olise adds five assists and current holder Ousmane Dembélé contributes four goals. The tournament approaches the round of 16, with Argentina set to meet Egypt in the eighth final. France, led by Mbappé, will face Morocco in the quarter‑finals, while Haaland's Norway is drawn against England. An early exit could deprive a contender of valuable points in the Ballon d'Or tally. Conversely, a surprise victory over a favorite can leave a lasting impression on the award voters. In 2023 Lionel Messi captured his eighth Ballon d'Or after guiding Argentina to the World Cup title. His club season was less impressive than Erling Haaland's, who secured a historic treble with Manchester City.

Fans sue StubHub over missing World Cup tickets in legal battle

Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon d'Or in 2006 following Italy's World Cup triumph. Many had expected Thierry Henry to claim the award that year. Ronaldo earned the 2002 Ballon d'Or after scoring eight goals in the tournament, including two in the final. His club season had been modest after returning from injury.

Crowd crush claims three lives as Mexico celebrates World Cup win

Luka Modrić secured the 2018 Ballon d'Or by leading Croatia to the World Cup final and winning the Champions League with Real Madrid. His dual success at club and international level exemplifies the award's typical criteria. Fans can watch the Argentina‑Egypt clash live from 18:00 on 07/07 via Voetbalkrant.com. The site also invites readers to subscribe to its newsletter for ongoing updates.