Experts update Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal 2026 Ballon d’Or odds after World Cup Final

Unfortunately, the World Cup is over. However, that doesn’t mean we have to ignore soccer for the next four years.

After a captivating 1-0 victory by Spain over Argentina in the World Cup Final, there was a lot of talk about the aging Lionel Messi who is considered by many as the greatest of all time. There was also a lot of talk about Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 years old just a week ago.

The Ballon d’Or is given to the best soccer player in the world every year and both Messi and Yamal are in the top five in terms of the odds to win it this year.

With the World Cup in the rear-view mirror, Polymarket has updated the odds for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Winner.

With prediction markets being massive across the industry lately, you can now claim a $50 CUSE promo at Polymarket and a $10 SYRACUSE promo from Kalshi.

Ballon d’Or 2026 Polymarket odds

With the World Cup coming to an end, Polymarket has updated their latest Ballon d’Or markets for the 2026 winner.

With all of the attention and hype surrounding the World Cup, players performance in the tournament surely has an impact on the odds. At the same time, there is a whole season of non-international play that will dictate the winner of the award.

With all of that being said, here are some of the top contenders according to Polymarket:

PlayerChance to win Ballon d’Or 2026Club TeamNational TeamHarry Kane33.3%Bayern MunichEnglandLamine Yamal33.1%BarcelonaSpainRodri16.0%Manchester CitySpainKylian Mbappe8.8%Real MadridFranceLionel Messi4.8%Inter MiamiArgentinaOusmane Dembele2.0%Paris Saint-GermainFranceBreaking down the fieldLamine Yamal: The teenage sensation has rocketed to the forefront of the race after a World Cup appearance where he was a big part of Spain claiming the title. His creativity and composure on soccer’s biggest stage make him a premier contender to take home the prize.Harry Kane: Kane enjoyed the most prolific campaign of his career, capturing the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal with Bayern Munich. Even though England fell in the World Cup semi-finals, his goalscoring consistency makes him a serious contender for the award.Rodri: Fresh off winning the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, the midfield stalwart remains the structural heartbeat of both Spain and Manchester City. His unmatched ability to control the biggest games puts him in the picture.Kylian Mbappé: Despite France falling short of the final, Mbappé claimed the tournament Golden Boot and became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. His individual brilliance and ability to find the back of the net keeps him securely in the conversation.Lionel Messi: Messi wasn’t viewed as a serious contender for this award just a month ago, but the 38-year-old completely flipped the script by orchestrating Argentina’s run to a second consecutive World Cup final. His timeless, masterclass performances keep him within touching distance of yet another historic trophy.Ousmane Dembélé: As the defending 2025 Ballon d’Or champion, Dembélé remains in the mix following a strong club campaign with PSG. However, France’s semi-final exit at the hands of Spain gives him an uphill battle to retain his crown against his international rivals. Ballon d’Or Prediction Markets:

Local soccer fans in New York, Florida and most other states can now use prediction markets to trade on soccer as an alternative to typical betting. Here are our top options, and available promo codes for new users:

PlatformMLB Eligible?July ’26 Sign-Up BonusVerified Promo CodesPolymarketYes$50CUSE, MASS, OREGON, SILIVE, CLEVEKalshiYes$10SYRACUSE, OREGONLIVE1, MASSLIVE1, SILIVE, CLEVELANDNovigYes$50SYRACUSE, OREGON, MASSLIVE, CLEVELAND

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