lexzayo

The 2026 World Cup has once again raised an interesting question:
How much should the World Cup influence the Ballon d'Or?
Over the years, we've seen players win the Ballon d'Or after producing unforgettable performances on football's biggest stage, even without winning the UEFA Champions League. On the other hand, winning both the Champions League and the World Cup in the same year has always been a huge advantage.
Then there are seasons where a player wins the Ballon d'Or with only the Champions League, while others have won it without lifting either the World Cup or the Champions League.
That's what makes the debate so interesting. There isn't one fixed formula, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
For me, the major Ballon d'Or contenders this year include:
- 🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé
- 🇳🇴 Erling Haaland
- 🇫🇷 Ousmane Dembélé
- 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Harry Kane
- 🇦🇷 Lionel Messi (never count him out!)
We've already witnessed Mbappé and Dembélé put on memorable performances against Morocco in the quarter-finals.
The remaining fixtures are mouthwatering:
🇪🇸 Spain vs 🇧🇪 Belgium (today)
🇳🇴 Norway vs 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (tomorrow)
🇦🇷 Argentina vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland (next)
And let's not forget the 18-year-old sensation, Lamine Yamal. If he delivers another outstanding performance against Belgium and helps Spain reach the World Cup final, he'll surely enter the Ballon d'Or conversation.
This World Cup has been one of the most entertaining and unpredictable tournaments I've watched. After all, what is football if we already know the result before kickoff? Unlike some movies where you can predict the ending from the very beginning. 😂
I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of the tournament unfolds.
What do you think?
- Should the World Cup carry more weight than the Champions League in Ballon d'Or voting?
- Who is your current Ballon d'Or favourite?

This year's World Cup has been incredibly competitive. A new generation of stars is taking center stage—Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and the ever-relentless Harry Kane are all putting on a show.
At the same time, Lionel Messi remains one of the biggest storylines. The legendary Messi–Ronaldo era is gradually coming to an end, making this tournament feel like the beginning of a new football generation.
One of the biggest surprises has been Morocco. The pride of Africa continues to impress, and Achraf Hakimi has developed into a world-class leader. Their clash with France promises to be one of the most entertaining and competitive matches of the tournament.
I still see France edging past Morocco. For Morocco to progress, it would require an extraordinary, tooth-for-tooth battle against one of the tournament favorites. If they do pull it off, they'll completely reshape the race for the trophy.
Looking at the other fixtures, Spain vs. Belgium and Argentina vs. Switzerland appear evenly matched, but I see Spain and Argentina progressing.
Potential clashes involving Haaland's Norway, Harry Kane's England, and Jude Bellingham would also be fascinating to watch.
Football, however, is beautifully unpredictable—anything can happen.
My semifinal prediction:
🇫🇷 France vs. Spain 🇪🇸
🇦🇷 Argentina vs. England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 
But change is constant, and that's what makes football so exciting.
Let's see how it all unfolds.

Anything is possible!!

This year's World Cup has been incredibly competitive. A new generation of stars is taking center stage—Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and the ever-relentless Harry Kane are all putting on a show.
At the same time, Lionel Messi remains one of the biggest storylines. The legendary Messi–Ronaldo era is gradually coming to an end, making this tournament feel like the beginning of a new football generation.
One of the biggest surprises has been Morocco. The pride of Africa continues to impress, and Achraf Hakimi has developed into a world-class leader. Their clash with France promises to be one of the most entertaining and competitive matches of the tournament.
I still see France edging past Morocco. For Morocco to progress, it would require an extraordinary, tooth-for-tooth battle against one of the tournament favorites. If they do pull it off, they'll completely reshape the race for the trophy.
Looking at the other fixtures, Spain vs. Belgium and Argentina vs. Switzerland appear evenly matched, but I see Spain and Argentina progressing.
Potential clashes involving Haaland's Norway, Harry Kane's England, and Jude Bellingham would also be fascinating to watch.
Football, however, is beautifully unpredictable—anything can happen.
My semifinal prediction:
🇫🇷 France vs. Spain 🇪🇸
🇦🇷 Argentina vs. England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 
But change is constant, and that's what makes football so exciting.
Let's see how it all unfolds.