Harry Kane secured the 2026 Ballon d'Or award, narrowly defeating Kylian Mbappe by just 28 points. Kane's victory followed a historic season, with Lamine Yamal finishing third and Spain teammate Rodri in fourth. Lionel Messi, at 39 years old, completed the top five, having been the standout player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi received legitimate consideration for the award, with six journalists casting first-place votes for him. These votes came from representatives of Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, China, Panama, and the United Arab Emirates. His impressive fifth-place finish, despite being nearly 40 and playing in Major League Soccer, a league not considered elite, highlights a remarkable achievement in his career. His 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign is noted as record-breaking.