The Most ‘Valuable’ Ballon d’Or in Years: Current Standings for the Next Winner

As the season draws to a close, it’s time to determine individual winners. We’re in for one of the most ‘valuable’ Ballon d’Or awards in recent years.

Real Madrid is gearing up for the end of the season, where not only tournaments like the Champions League or the national league are at stake for a squad brimming with individual hunger. The race for a Ballon d’Or, which is increasingly leaning towards the Santiago Bernabéu, is heating up with tight percentages.

We’re talking about the highest individual award any professional in this sport can aspire to, the same award that last found its home at the Santiago Bernabéu when Karim Benzema clinched it after the latest Champions League triumph. Vinicius, Jude Bellingham, and even Kylian Mbappé are vying for their first Ballon d’Or as their careers reach a fever pitch. Here’s how the percentages stack up according to the most specialized portals.

Leading the pack is the new darling of Real Madrid fans in less than a season. Bellingham stands at 33% chance of securing the award at the end of a season where the Englishman could even conquer Wembley while lifting the Champions League trophy. Mbappé follows closely with 30%. Let’s not forget that the mid-year Euros will undoubtedly factor heavily into the overall standings.

And Vinicius? Harry Kane at 14%, Erling Haaland at 10%, and Phil Foden at 9%. This is what various specialized portals attribute to the main contenders in the final race for the Ballon d’Or. It’s surprising not to see players like Vinicius in the mix yet, while lesser-recognized players like Rodri or Florian Wirtz are waiting for their moment in the spotlight. Madrid keeps an eye on Paris.

All signs point to the Ballon d’Or going to players like Vinicius or Bellingham if Real Madrid wins the Champions League, as they’ve both taken significant strides forward in recent months. Mbappé stands an equal chance, considering how Paris Saint-Germain is still in the Champions League and how France is the top contender for the mid-year international tournament on German soil. Place your bets.