With the tournament narrowing down to the absolute elite, the race for the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball has transformed into a spectacular heavyweight battle.
A handful of global superstars are separating themselves from the pack with a number of clutch, tournament-defining goals and masterclass nation-carrying performances.
The Golden Ball is awarded to the Player of the Tournament, and has been a key individual prize since its introduction at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Italy’s Paolo Rossi became the first recipient after leading his side to glory with six goals.
Since then, only a select group of players have claimed the honour, with Lionel Messi the only man to win it twice – first in 2014 and again in 2022.
At the 2026 edition, several of the game’s biggest names have delivered in their bid to be crowned Player of the Tournament, with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, and Erling Haaland all staking a huge claim to the throne.
The latest World Cup 2026 Golden Ball odds
| Player | Odds from Bet365 | Odds from BetVictor | Odds from Paddy Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kylian Mbappe (France) | 13/8 | 13/8 | 13/8 |
| Lionel Messi (Argentina) | 7/4 | 2/1 | 7/4 |
| Harry Kane (England) | 8/1 | 8/1 | 8/1 |
| Erling Haaland (Norway) | 7/1 | 8/1 | 7/1 |
| Jude Bellingham (England) | 10/1 | 10/1 | 10/1 |
| Michael Olise (France) | 10/1 | 10/1 | 10/1 |
| Lamine Yamal (Spain) | 18/1 | 20/1 | 18/1 |
| Ousmane Dembele (France) | 20/1 | 25/1 | 20/1 |
| Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain) | 40/1 | 40/1 | 40/1 |
| Pedri (Spain) | 50/1 | 40/1 | 50/1 |
Who will win the Golden Ball?
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Mbappe has seamlessly translated his immense international pedigree to these finals, spearheading France’s deep run with seven goals so far. His clinical output includes a brace against Senegal and a decisive penalty against Paraguay, pushing his career tally to 11 goals in World Cup knockout matches – the highest in the competition’s history.
Trading as the 13/8 market favourite for the Golden Ball, should France go one further this time and lift the top prize, Mbappe will undoubtedly be the man to win this award.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Lionel Messi currently sits at 7/4 in the market as he seeks to captain the defending world champions to consecutive World Cup trophies. The 39-year-old remains the ultimate baseline for consistency, leading the tournament scoring charts with eight goals in North America.
Since his move to MLS side Inter Miami in 2023, he has sustained high-level domestic output by providing over a combined 100 goal contributions, consisting of 62 goals and 50 assists in 67 appearances.
Harry Kane (England)
England’s focal point enters the final eight sitting third in the Golden Ball betting market. Kane has registered six goals at this tournament to add to his record-breaking tally of 85 goals in 119 international caps for his country.
His clinical form at the finals follows an extraordinary domestic campaign under Vincent Kompany, where he struck 61 goals in 51 appearances across all competitions for Bayern Munich.
Erling Haaland (Norway)
Erling Haaland has carried his domestic dominance onto the international stage, spearheading Norway’s historic run into the quarter-finals as a leading candidate for the individual prize. He sits second in the tournament scoring charts with seven goals in North America.
That follows a clinical club campaign with Manchester City where he secured his third consecutive Premier League Golden Boot with 27 goals, finishing on 38 goals in 52 games overall.
Jude Bellingham (England)
Jude Bellingham remains a main driving force behind England’s deep knockout run, making his presence felt with four goals at the finals so far. His tournament highlights include a decisive, quick-fire brace to drag his team through a 3-2 Round-of-16 test against Mexico.
At club level for Real Madrid, the midfielder combined domestic duties with a productive continental campaign, registering two goals and an assist across nine Champions League outings.
Michael Olise (France)
Michael Olise has quickly forced his way into the award conversation, also sitting at 10/1. The winger has rapidly become a focal point for club and country, following up a 20-goal, 23-assist debut year at Bayern Munich by recording 25 goals and 33 assists in his second season to lift the Bundesliga title.
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
The 18-year-old Lamine Yamal enters the quarter-final stage as a primary contender for La Roja, building on a spectacular rise that already includes 25 senior caps for Spain and over 100 club games for Barcelona.
Having already won a European championship and finished as the runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, his impact at these finals comes on the back of a hamstring injury that had kept him sidelined since late April.
