Ballon d'Or 2026 Power Rankings: Ousmane Dembele Takes the Lead

When you hear the phrase Ballon d'Or, you picture the world’s best footballer clutching a golden trophy. This year’s power rankings, compiled after a whirlwind 2024‑25 season, put Paris Saint‑Germain’s versatile forward Ousmane Dembele on the throne. His blend of speed, creativity and clutch goal‑scoring nudged him past a field packed with legends and rising stars.

How the rankings were built

The analysts behind the list didn’t just count goals. They weighed a mix of tangible stats – goals, assists, clean sheets for defenders and goalkeepers – and less‑quantifiable factors like trophies won, decisive moments in key matches and overall form across the campaign. Each player received a weighted score for every category, then the numbers were summed to produce a single ranking.

For attackers, goal involvement (goals + assists) carried the most heft, but a player’s impact in title‑deciding games could boost his standing dramatically. Defenders and keepers were judged on clean sheets and defensive solidity, while midfielders were assessed on both creativity and defensive work‑rate. The system also rewarded players who stepped up in the Champions League, domestic cups and league playoffs, ensuring that flashy moments in high‑stakes fixtures mattered.

Who made the top 20 and why they matters

Below is a snapshot of the first twenty, plus quick notes on what kept them in the conversation.

• 1. Ousmane Dembele (PSG) – 28 goals, 12 assists, decisive performances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
• 2. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) – 22 goals, 9 assists, still a teenager but already a match‑winner for the Catalans.
• 3. Raphinha (Barcelona) – Consistent scorer, 19 league goals, helped secure a La Liga title.
• 4. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) – 26 Premier League goals, several game‑changing moments in the FA Cup.
• 5. Desire Doue (PSG) – Breakout season with 15 goals and a key role in PSG’s domestic double.
• 6. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG) – 13 goals, 8 assists, praised for his dribbling in crucial knockout ties.
• 7. Vitinha (PSG) – Midfield engine, 7 goals, 11 assists, dictated tempo in big games.
• 8. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) – 24 goals, but a slightly lower score due to fewer decisive cup wins after his move.
• 9. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) – 20 Serie A goals, leading Inter’s attack in both league and Europa League.
• 10. Pedri (Barcelona) – 10 goals, 14 assists, showed maturity beyond his years.
• 11. Achraf Hakimi (PSG) – 5 goals, 4 assists, solidified the right‑back position while contributing offensively.
• 12. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG) – 15 clean sheets, crucial saves in Champions League knockout rounds.
• 13. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – 21 Bundesliga goals, proved his adaptability after the switch.
• 14. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) – 18 La Liga goals, but slightly behind Mbappé in overall impact score.
• 15. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) – 16 goals, veteran presence, still a top scorer despite age.
• 16. Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan) – Defensive leader, 12 clean sheets, vital in Serie A title push.
• 17. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) – Anchor of Liverpool’s backline, 10 clean sheets, contributed 3 goals on set pieces.
• 18. Cole Palmer (Chelsea) – Emerging talent, 9 goals, 6 assists, broke into the senior lineup.
• 19. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) – 14 Premier League goals, 5 assists, praised for consistency.
• 20. Declan Rice (Arsenal) – Midfield dynamo, 4 goals, 8 assists, key in Arsenal’s defensive solidity.

The list showcases how French, Spanish, English and Italian clubs are still the breeding grounds for elite talent. PSG’s six‑player presence underlines their financial firepower, while Barcelona’s blend of youth (Yamal, Pedri) and seasoned veterans (Raphinha, Lewandowski) highlights their strategic rebuild.

Real Madrid’s Mbappé and Vinícius remain in the mix, but the shift to a new league slightly dented his immediate impact rating. Liverpool’s Salah continues his goal‑machine form, and his teammate van Dijk proves defenders still earn top‑10 nods.

Finally, the rankings remind us that the Ballon d’Or is as much about narrative as numbers. A youngster like Lamine Yamal sharing the podium with established icons tells a story of a new generation ready to claim the stage. As the ceremony approaches, fans can expect a tight vote, debates over individual brilliance versus team success, and perhaps a surprise twist that shakes up the traditional order.