2026 World Cup Golden Ball odds, picks: Best bets, predictions for Player of the Tournament
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off this week, 48 teams are set to take multiple pitches on North American soil, hoping to put their respective countries on the map and earn the ultimate prize. Aside from team glory, the Golden Ball, often called the Ballon d’Or, is the trophy awarded to the World Cup’s most outstanding player.This honor is different from the Golden Boot, which is specifically reserved for the tournament’s leading scorer.The distinction has solidified the soccer legacies of past stars such as Pelé, Diego Maradona and Ronaldo.As teams progress past the Group Stage, individual talents start to distinguish themselves as leading candidates. Lionel Messi’s incredible seven-goal, three-assist run in 2022 earned him honors matching those of his 2014 campaign, making him the first player to win the award multiple times.To no one’s surprise, Messi (12/1) on DraftKings is among the top favorites to win this year’s Golden Ball, alongside Qatar 2022 Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé (+900). Harry Kane (+750), however, is the odds-on opening favorite to win it.All eyes will be on the Starboy’s hamstring, but Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente assured that Yamal is “getting better fast, hitting all the targets earlier.”Even if his role is reduced in Spain’s Group H opener against Cape Verde, Yamal’s explosive dribbling and ability to take defenders one-on-one make him a threat to lead the tournament in goals or assists when fully healthy.That was demonstrated back at UEFA Euro 2024, when he finished with four assists and a goal en route to La Roja’s fourth European Championship.In La Liga play this past season, he turned it up a notch before getting hurt in April, accounting for 16 goals and a league-leading 11 assists.On the main stage of the Champions League, Yamal delivered six goals and four assists in ten appearances.This could be similar to Mbappé’s ascent in 2022, as Yamal aims to cement his status as one of the world�...