BBC Sport Pundits Weigh In on Men's Ballon d'Or Contenders
· Sports · BBC Sport, BBC News
The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced in London on 26 October, with bookmakers narrowing the favourites down to Spain winger Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane. Yamal secured La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, while Kane recorded 73 goals for German champions Bayern Munich and England. Additional candidates include eight-time winner Lionel Messi of Inter Miami and Real Madrid's France forward Kylian Mbappe, alongside Paris St-Germain's European champions. European football expert Guillem Balague backs Yamal for the award, citing his individual performances and collective trophies. Meanwhile, fellow expert Julien Laurens suggests Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deserves the honour for his standout Champions League campaign.
Why it matters
The Ballon d'Or recognises the top individual performer in global football, shaping player legacies, transfer values, and club standings across Europe.
Read the original report — BBC Sport
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