The soccer world has its eyes glued to London this week, waiting for the answer to a question that’s been hanging in the air for months: Who’s actually going to take home the Ballon d’Or? It’s Monday, October 26th, and frankly, nobody seems to have a definitive clue, which is wild for an award this massive.
The Old Guard Is Gone, Chaos Reigns Supreme
Let’s be real, the days of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo absolutely dominating the Ballon d’Or conversation are pretty much over. That decades-long stranglehold on soccer’s most prestigious individual award made predicting the winner almost boring, right? Now, though, it feels like we’re in uncharted territory. That usual air of mystery, the kind you expect for a major awards show, feels utterly foreign to us, and trying to guess the winner? That’s a fresh challenge entirely. It’s especially true on the men’s side this year because none of the typical indicators even apply. We’ve got a list of nominees who are all totally deserving, sure, but none of them scream “classic Ballon d’Or winner.” Usually, the award goes to the best player on a team that snagged the biggest prize, which would point you straight to Spain’s golden ball winner, Rodri. But after an ACL injury and spending most of last season getting his form back, he hardly feels like a slam-dunk pick. You could then pivot to someone from Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League-winning squad, like Portuguese midfielder Vitinha, who might actually have a shot. But there are bigger names out there creating more buzz.
Kane’s Massive Numbers, But Still Not a Lock?
Then there’s Harry Kane, the England captain and Bayern Munich’s absolute talisman. He’s been steadily cementing his legacy as his generation’s greatest goalscorer, and many see him as the favorite. But here’s the kicker, and what makes this whole thing so unpredictable, according to James Benge: “Perhaps it was the endings to his tilts at the Champions League and World Cup that make it so hard to lock in on Kane as the best player in the world last season.” Benge points out those late-summer games, like the World Cup semi against Argentina, where Kane looked too “leggy” to really impact the game, whether in the penalty area or when he dropped into his usual midfield roles. It’s tough to hear, especially when you think about all the times he usually pulls it off. But hey, that’s one game, right? The man was frequently spectacular in another 64 games and racked up a remarkable 73 goals for his club last season. Seventy-three goals! And he’s still fighting for this thing. It just shows how stacked and frankly, how confusing, this year’s race truly is.
So, who’s it gonna be? The Ballon d’Or ceremony kicks off tonight, Monday, October 26th, at 4 p.m. ET over on DAZN. Before that, you can catch Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lyon in Ligue 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET. If you’re looking for more action tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27th, the EFL Cup returns with Fleetwood Town vs. Arsenal at 4 p.m. ET on Paramount+. Get ready, because this is one of those awards where we genuinely don’t know what’s coming next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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