- The 2026 World Cup is underway and the Golden Ball — the media-voted prize for the tournament’s best overall player — is already a major talking point beyond just who scores the most goals.
- Front-runners to watch include Lionel Messi (two-time winner), Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé, Vinícius Júnior and veteran Cristiano Ronaldo.
- With 48 teams there’s room for surprises — Yamal could become the first teenage winner, Messi remains a headline favorite, and a breakout star from a smaller nation could steal the spotlight.
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