Paris Saint-Germain strengthened their position as one of Europe’s dominant teams after defeating Aston Villa 2–1 in the UEFA Super Cup, with the result adding another talking point to the ongoing debate over the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
PSG secured the trophy after goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Désiré Doué, while Aston Villa’s teenage forward Brian Madjo scored the equaliser before Doué restored the French champions’ lead in the second half.
The victory further highlighted the quality within PSG’s squad, with several of their players already featuring prominently in the Ballon d’Or conversation. However, the individual award remains heavily influenced by performances across the entire season, particularly domestic competitions, the UEFA Champions League and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Top Five Ballon d’Or Contenders
1. Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
Harry Kane remains one of the strongest candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
The England captain enjoyed an extraordinary campaign for Bayern Munich, producing exceptional scoring numbers while helping the German club win major domestic honours. He also maintained his importance for England during the World Cup.
Kane’s biggest advantage is the combination of individual statistics and consistency. His ability to score, create chances and contribute to his team’s overall attacking play has strengthened his case for the prestigious individual award.
Although England did not win the World Cup, Kane’s individual contribution has kept him firmly among the leading candidates.
2. Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
Lamine Yamal continues to represent one of the biggest threats to Kane’s hopes of winning the award.
The Barcelona youngster enjoyed another remarkable campaign, combining goals, assists and outstanding performances with the Catalan club before playing an important role in Spain’s World Cup triumph.
Yamal’s age makes his achievements particularly remarkable. His creativity, dribbling ability and influence in decisive areas have established him among the leading players in world football.
A major factor working in his favour is the combination of domestic success and international glory. However, the debate surrounding his individual impact in some of the biggest matches could still influence the final voting.
3. Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé remains firmly in contention despite Real Madrid’s mixed campaign.
The French forward delivered another prolific season and was particularly impressive at the World Cup, where he finished as the tournament’s leading scorer.
Mbappé’s individual numbers provide a strong argument for his inclusion near the top of the Ballon d’Or race. His speed, finishing, consistency and ability to perform on the biggest stage continue to make him one of the most dangerous forwards in world football.
The major question surrounding his candidacy is the lack of major team success at Real Madrid compared with some of his principal rivals.
4. Rodri – Manchester City
Rodri has also emerged as a serious contender following his outstanding contribution to Spain’s World Cup success.
The Manchester City midfielder overcame significant fitness problems to return to the international stage and played a major role in Spain’s campaign.
His ability to control matches from midfield, dictate tempo and provide defensive stability gives him a different type of Ballon d’Or case compared with the attacking players above him.
Rodri’s World Cup performances have significantly strengthened his claim, particularly because the award traditionally considers a player’s influence rather than simply goals and assists.
5. Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint-Germain
Ousmane Dembélé remains one of the most intriguing candidates, particularly after PSG’s continued success in Europe.
The Frenchman won the 2025 Ballon d’Or after playing a central role in PSG’s historic Champions League campaign. His subsequent season again featured important performances, including contributions during PSG’s European campaign and their Champions League triumph.
PSG’s 2–1 victory over Aston Villa further underlined the club’s strength, although the UEFA Super Cup itself should be viewed as additional context rather than the sole basis for determining the Ballon d’Or.
Dembélé’s challenge is that France’s World Cup campaign did not produce the team success that some of his major competitors enjoyed. Nevertheless, his club achievements keep him firmly within the leading group.
Désiré Doué Also Strengthens His Reputation
Désiré Doué was arguably the standout individual from PSG’s Super Cup victory after scoring the decisive goal against Aston Villa.
The young French attacker also contributed to the opening goal and continued to demonstrate his growing importance to Luis Enrique’s side. His performance reinforces the view that PSG possess several players capable of competing for major individual honours.
However, Doué faces a much more difficult route to the top five because his overall body of work is not yet as extensive as that of Kane, Yamal, Mbappé, Rodri and Dembélé.
Kvaratskhelia’s Contribution
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also enhanced his reputation by opening the scoring against Aston Villa.
The Georgian winger has already enjoyed a highly productive period with PSG, particularly during their European campaign. His combination of goals, assists, creativity and ability to influence important matches makes him another player worth monitoring in the Ballon d’Or conversation.
His position remains more difficult because Georgia did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup, limiting the international platform available to him compared with several of his principal rivals.
Why the Ballon d’Or Race Remains Open
The 2026 Ballon d’Or race is unusually competitive because several candidates have compelling arguments.
Kane has extraordinary individual numbers and domestic success. Yamal combines club achievements with World Cup glory. Mbappé has produced elite scoring numbers and another outstanding World Cup campaign. Rodri has the benefit of being a key figure in Spain’s World Cup triumph, while Dembélé continues to benefit from PSG’s remarkable run of success.
The award is ultimately determined by a combination of individual performances, collective achievements and the player’s influence during the relevant voting period. Therefore, winning another trophy with PSG does not automatically move one of their players ahead of every rival.
Current Top Five
Based on the overall strength of their individual performances, team achievements and international contributions, the leading five contenders can be ranked as follows:
- Harry Kane – Bayern Munich
- Lamine Yamal – Barcelona
- Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid
- Rodri – Manchester City
- Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint-Germain
The competition is expected to remain intense until the final voting process, with several players still capable of making a convincing case for the prestigious individual prize.
For PSG, however, the 2–1 victory over Aston Villa provides another indication of the club’s continued dominance and gives players such as Dembélé, Doué and Kvaratskhelia another opportunity to strengthen their reputations on the European stage.