World Cup 2026 Golden Ball Rankings: Messi Leads Mbappe and Olise After Strong Starts
The 2026 World Cup is in full swing, with Lionel Messi currently holding the lead for FIFA's Golden Ball award after netting all five of Argentina's goals so far. Hot on his heels are Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise, who have impressed with their electrifying performances for France.
This prestigious award goes beyond just scoring; it celebrates overall impact and excellence as judged by media members. Though often won by forwards, midfielders and even goalkeepers have claimed the honor in past tournaments. Previous winners include Paolo Rossi, Diego Maradona, Salvatore Schillaci, Romario, Ronaldo, Oliver Kahn, Zinedine Zidane, and Diego Forlan. Among active players, both Lionel Messi and Luka Modric stand out as past recipients.
Messi, the only player to have won the Golden Ball twice (2014 and 2022), aims to secure it again, but rivals like 2022 runner-up Mbappe, Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Spain's rising star Lamine Yamal, and England captain Harry Kane remain strong candidates. At 41, Cristiano Ronaldo seeks to add this accolade while leading Portugal deep into the tournament. Brazil hopes that Vinicius Junior and Raphinha can propel them to a sixth World Cup title.
With 48 teams competing across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, surprises could emerge from anywhere. Our Golden Ball Power Rankings track those making the biggest impact as group stages wrap up.
Top Performers
- Cody Gakpo (Netherlands): Despite a tough club season, Gakpo has been vital for the Oranje, especially in their win over Sweden where he assisted early and scored twice in the second half.
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): Though Spain stumbled against Cape Verde, Oyarzabal showed persistence, notably assisting Lamine Yamal and scoring twice against Saudi Arabia.
- Alexander Isak (Sweden): Isak opened scoring against Tunisia and helped create further chances, including a key pass during a loss to the Netherlands.
- Harry Kane (England): Europe's Golden Shoe winner carried form into the Cup, scoring twice against Croatia and remaining a constant threat despite some criticism after a draw with Ghana.
- Denis Undav (Germany): Coming off the bench, Undav made an immediate impact by scoring and assisting to help Germany top their group.
- Vinicius Junior (Brazil): With Neymar recovering and Raphinha sidelined, Vinicius has stepped up, earning Man of the Match honors in all group games and scoring crucial goals.
- Erling Haaland (Norway): Haaland started strong with two goals against Iraq and continued his scoring run against Senegal, setting up a critical clash with Mbappe's France.
- Michael Olise (France): The Bundesliga's Player of the Year dazzled with pace, control, and vision, assisting Mbappe multiple times and earning a Man of the Match nod.
- Kylian Mbappe (France): Already a legend before the tournament, Mbappe surged ahead of Pele's goal tally by scoring multiple times, linking brilliantly with Olise to dominate matches.
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): Approaching 39, Messi remains unstoppable, opening with a hat-trick against Algeria and extending his record with a brace versus Austria, now tied as the World Cup's joint-top scorer with 16 goals.
