Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday has added another twist to the 2026 Ballon d’Or race.
PSG have started the new season with another European trophy after already winning the Champions League against Arsenal in May.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for PSG before Brian Madjo equalised for Aston Villa before half-time.
Desire Doué restored PSG’s lead in the second half, scoring the winner as the French champions lifted another European trophy.
PSG’s back-to-back Super Cup triumphs have strengthened the cases of their leading stars, according to BBC Sport.
However, the race for the prestigious individual award remains open, with performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup also expected to play a major role in the voting.
Current top five Ballon d’Or contenders
- Harry Kane (England/Bayern Munich)
Kane currently has the strongest statistical case after scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich. He helped the club win a domestic double and reach the Champions League semi-finals. - Ousmane Dembélé (France/PSG)
The reigning Ballon d’Or winner scored six goals at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Norway. PSG’s success in France and Europe has further boosted his chances. - Lamine Yamal (Spain/Barcelona)
Yamal helped Barcelona win LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup. Spain’s strong World Cup campaign has also strengthened his case despite a quieter individual tournament. - Rodri (Spain/Manchester City)
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner claimed the World Cup Golden Ball after featuring in all eight of Spain’s matches. He also won the Carabao Cup and FA Cup with Manchester City, although they missed out on the Premier League and Champions League. - Kylian Mbappé (France/Real Madrid)
Mbappé enjoyed an outstanding World Cup, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists as France finished fourth. He also became the first player to win the Golden Boot in LaLiga, the Champions League and the World Cup in the same calendar year. However, the lack of major team trophies has weakened his case.
