Who's leading the race as the World Cup hots up?

Several of soccer's superstars have enhanced their Ballon d'Or case during the first stage of the World Cup. We run through the contenders

Bayern Munich’s incredible duo have taken their insane form into the World Cup and are the planet’s best footballers.

Former England defender Jamie Carragher has made a strong case for Harry Kane to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner, arguing that the striker’s performances over the past year have been worthy of

It is almost a quarter of a century since Michael Owen won the Ballon d’Or, and the story of his coronation as Europe’s best footballer belongs to a different era. Word of the young forward’s ascent to that elite bracket was quietly delivered by his ...

France Football has settled the long-running debate over how closely winning the World Cup is tied to claiming the Ballon d'Or

The race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or is well and truly on - so who are the main contenders for the Golden Ball, and who has work to do to keep up?

Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior was long considered the favorite for the Ballon d'Or by bookmakers and experts. It is now known that the Brazilian is boycotting the award ceremony together with his Real colleagues.

What if being the reigning Ballon d’Or holder at the World Cup was a curse? It’s a stat Les Bleus could have done without. It’s simple: since 1956 and the creation of the prestigious trophy awarded to the best player of the season,

Lineker is still regarded as one of England's greatest ever strikers, with his most memorable tournament coming at the 1986 World Cup. He claimed the Golden Boot despite England exiting at the quarter-final stage after Diego Maradona scored two of the most famous goals football has ever seen.