The Ballon d’Or race don turn upside down over the last month. ZonalSports ranking don show say Portuguese no go win since Ronaldo era, because Portugal exit for last 16 against Spain, and for World Cup year, di trophy never go to player wey no reach semi-final.
Di eight players from France, Spain, England, and Argentina wey still dey contest don see dia totals change based on wetin dem do for North America. ZonalSports wey call di 2025 top five correct – Dembélé, Yamal, Vitinha, Salah, Rafinha – don run dia ranking again heading into semi-finals.
For England, Harry Kane dey lead di pack with 66 goals for 51 games for Bayern Munich, including 36 for Bundesliga wey win am third straight scoring title, plus European Golden Shoe and hat-trick for DFB-Pokal final. Before World Cup, ZonalSports ranking put am third because Bayern lose Champions League semi-final to PSG. But after six goals and one assist for World Cup, Kane don become England top scorer for tournament, passing Gary Lineker.
Kane dey di outright favourite heading into Atlanta against Argentina. He be di only player wey destiny dey im hand – if England win World Cup, im go win Ballon d’Or regardless of wetin others do. Di club season already elite, and tournament form confirm am as player of di summer. He get six goals and one assist, including heroics against Mexico for Azteca and record as England top scorer. Even if England lose semi-final or final, no go cost am di award as long as dem lift di trophy.
For Ousmane Dembélé, di reigning Ballon d’Or holder, im season look like repeat of last year: slow start with injuries wey limit am to 11 Ligue 1 starts and 10 league goals, but im deliver for Champions League knockouts with five goals across quarter-finals and semis, plus penalty wey level di final against Arsenal, helping PSG defend European title. World Cup don give am five goals and two assists, including first-half hat-trick against Norway wey be second-fastest for tournament history and decisive second goal for quarter-final win over Morocco.
Dembélé go win if France win World Cup and im either match or better Mbappé performance across final two matches, because club season already favour am. Di hat-trick against Norway and goal against Morocco show knockout pedigree wey di ranking reward more than group-stage production.
Kylian Mbappé score 42 goals for 44 games for Real Madrid, win Pichichi for second straight year, and finish as Champions League top scorer with 15 goals, two short of Ronaldo record. But im club win nothing, and Opta defensive metrics rank am 6,043 out of 6,044 non-goalkeepers across major leagues. World Cup be im redemption: eight goals and three assists take im career tally to 20, one behind Messi, with 12 knockout-stage goals as all-time record. Di France captain dey deliver when matter most, like curler against Morocco minutes after Bounou save im first-half penalty.
If France beat Spain and im keep scoring, di gap from May disappear. Mbappé go win if France lift di trophy, but im need to outshine Dembélé across final two matches because di ranking separate dem by less than a point, and di reigning holder club season still hold weight.
Lamine Yamal be bookmakers favourite for long stretches of season, with 22 goals and 18 assists for Barcelona, 16 and 11 for La Liga wey im lead league in dribbles by 46 over second place. Im 285 successful dribbles for 2025 put am within twelve of Messi year-round record. But World Cup don be disappointment relative to expectations: one goal against Saudi Arabia and no assists across six games, 23 lost balls for quarter-final against Belgium alone where im get MVP wey baffle many observers.
Spain defence carry dem through on Unai Simón clean sheets instead of Yamal creation. Spain run to last four keep am visible after club season wey end for injury, but World Cup don be more solid than spectacular.
Lionel Messi don score 29 goals and add 19 assists for Inter Miami for MLS, winning Golden Boot and MVP and delivering club first MLS Cup. But anything outside Europe dey discounted, and Argentina suffer critical hit with cancellation of Finalissima against Spain after UEFA and CONMEBOL no agree on final date. Im need World Cup for di ages to get back for conversation, and im don deliver: eight goals tied with Mbappé for tournament lead, two assists make am World Cup all-time leading scorer and provider – 21 career goals and 10 assists, di first time anyone hold both records.
Argentina dey unbeaten heading into semi-final with England. Messi fit only win if Argentina lift trophy and im produce something extraordinary for semi-final and final, because di 115-point jump don put am back for conversation but no close enough to rely on anything less than signature performance on biggest stage.
Declan Rice be second to Vitinha before tournament thanks to season for Arsenal wey be all about substance: Premier League title and Champions League final where im be best player for three different legs, nullifying number tens and covering 112 kilometres across 12 European appearances. But Kane and Bellingham don surge past am for betting. Rice fit still win but im already get teammate wey dey outperform am for tournament, so England victory go favour Kane more than am unless im deliver two barnstorming performances for Atlanta and final wey eclipse im captain.
