Say what you want about Ousmane Dembélé but he walked away with the Ballon d’Or last night. The Frenchman produced a season of dazzling performances, carried his team to trophies, and claimed the biggest individual prize in football. Raphinha, Yamal, and Salah had to soak it up with Mbappe licking his chops for next year’s award.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or is upon us. To push the conversation forward, we turned to artificial intelligence and asked it to predict who could lift the trophy next. The model highlighted a mix of familiar superstars and rising talents, some obvious, others less expected.

The frontrunners

Dembélé naturally remains in the conversation. Back-to-back Ballon d’Or wins are rare, but if PSG continue their dominance and France shine at Euro 2026, he will have a case.

Mbappé is still chasing the prize many assumed he would already have won by now. A move to Real Madrid puts him in position to dominate both La Liga and the Champions League. If he delivers, few can match his résumé.

Jude Bellingham also features prominently. At just 22, the midfielder has already transformed Madrid’s attack, blending goals with leadership. An England breakthrough at Euro 2026 could be enough to tilt the vote his way.

Haaland, meanwhile, keeps scoring at a rate that defies belief. If Manchester City pair his numbers with a Champions League triumph, the Norwegian striker could finally get the recognition he has been chasing.

And then there is Lamine Yamal. At 18, the Barcelona winger could become the youngest Ballon d’Or winner in history, breaking Ronaldo Nazário’s record from 1997. His potential makes him one of the most intriguing names on the list.

The outsiders

AI did not stop at the big five. Vinícius Júnior remains a favorite for his flair and consistency at Madrid. Vitinha’s rise in PSG’s midfield suggests he could make a case if he dominates another season. Mohamed Salah is a veteran candidate, still producing goals at the highest level.

Then come the wildcards. Cole Palmer has blossomed into Chelsea’s star man, and a big tournament with England would thrust him into the spotlight. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia continues to shine in Serie A, while Raphinha carries Barcelona’s creative spark. João Neves is emerging as Portugal’s next midfield leader.

Harry Kane, though older, is still prolific. Désiré Doué is seen as one of France’s brightest young players. Viktor Gyökeres has become a scoring machine in Portugal and could rise higher if he secures a big transfer.

The verdict

AI’s predicted list is a reminder of how deep the talent pool is heading into 2026. Dembélé, Mbappé, Bellingham, Haaland, and Yamal headline the race, but football has a way of throwing up surprises. Just ask

Ronaldo, Messi, or even Dembélé himself.

So who did AI miss? That may be the most important question of all as we count down to the next Ballon d’Or ceremony.