World Cup Final Between Spain and Argentina Could Decide 2026 Ballon d'Or Winner

The 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey between Spain and Argentina may determine not only the world champion but also the winner of the prestigious Ballon d'Or award, according to BBC analysis ahead of the Sunday match. The British outlet suggests this could be one of the closest races in history, with the decisive moment yet to come. A victory for the world champion could secure the Ballon d'Or for Lionel Messi, while a win for European champions Spain might favor 19-year-old Anssumane Fati (referred to as Lamin Yamal in the article).

Historically, winning a major title such as the World Cup, Champions League, Euros, or Copa America heavily influences the Ballon d'Or outcome. Only four of the last 19 winners did not claim a major trophy that year, including Messi in 2010, 2012, and 2019, and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2013. At 39, Messi is pursuing his ninth Ballon d'Or, having scored eight goals and assisted four times in the tournament, leading Argentina to a second consecutive final. Another win would make him the first captain to lead a team to back-to-back World Cup titles.

On the other side, Spain's young star Anssumane Fati, who finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings, hopes to improve his standing. Although his World Cup performance was less spectacular than during Spain's Euro 2024 victory, with one goal and no assists in seven games, he played a key role in Spain reaching their first final since 2010. His impressive club season with Barcelona included 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 matches, helping them win La Liga, though they were eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Other contenders include Harry Kane, who scored 61 goals in 51 games and won a domestic double with Bayern Munich but faced semi-final exits in both the Champions League and World Cup; Kylian Mbappe, who scored eight World Cup goals but ended the season trophyless with Real Madrid; Erling Haaland, who won the FA Cup and League Cup with Manchester City; and current Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembélé, who won a second consecutive Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain but was stopped in the World Cup semi-finals with France.

The final showdown is expected to be intense, with the World Cup winner likely gaining a significant edge in the Ballon d'Or race.