👑 Messi's heir: Who will be MVP of the 2026 World Cup?
· Yahoo Sports
The World Cup isn't the only trophy being handed out in New Jersey in July.
There is also the small matter of the tournament's individual honours, with the most prestigious being the Golden Ball, awarded to the man who is the best player over the course of the five weeks of football.
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Lionel Messi took it last time out for guiding Argentina to glory in Qatar but who will do so this time? Let's check out the top contenders...
Lamine Yamal (Spain)
This man truly is Messi's heir in every sense and could add to that reputation further by following in his footsteps this summer.
He has already came through as an exciting attacking prodigy at Barcelona and has worn both the No. 19 and iconic No. 10 jerseys that have been so synonymous with the Argentine superstar.
The parallels between the pair are obvious and with Spain among the big favourites to lift their second World Cup, Yamal will have a huge part to play if they do so.
And if La Roja do emerge victorious it would be very difficult to look past Yamal taking home individual honours.
Kylian Mbappé (France)
As with his Clásico rival Yamal, the Real Madrid superstar is helped by the fact that he is the biggest attacking threat for a side who are well-fancied to go all the way this summer.
That goes a way towards deciding where the Golden Ball ends up: since its introduction in 1982, four of the 11 winners also lifted the World Cup too, although as can be seen, it isn't necessarily decisive.
And in this tournament he truly comes alive. He was a Golden Boot, Silver Ball winner and silver medalist last time out, was a World Cup winner in 2018 and has more goals in the final of this tournament than any other player in history.
In fact, all that is missing from his World Cup resumé is a Golden Ball win. This may be his moment.
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
The Manchester United captain is coming off the back of a sensational season and often players who shine in terms of Golden Boot contention do so when they are in a rich vein of form.
Few come in off more of a purple patch than Fernandes, who won the Premier League Player of the Season despite representing a team who finished third and also broke the league's record for most assists in a season.
When it comes to Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo often hogs the limelight but the former Udinese man is the player who will really make his team shine this summer as they look to lift the trophy for the first time ever.
With a favourable group and potential route to the final, Fernandes is a real contender.
Harry Kane (England)
Being a goalscorer is a big advantage when chasing the Golden Ball, with eight of the 11 winners being attacking players and few at the tournament do scoring goals better than the England ace.
He is coming off the back of another ridiculous season in front of goal with Bayern Munich in which he chalked up 61 goals in 51 appearances.
The ex-Tottenham man already has a Golden Boot win at World Cups under his belt and along with Declan Rice is perhaps the best chance at seeing an Englishman take home this award.
Much of that may depend on how well he can carry his regular season scoring form into this tournament.
Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Could it be ruled out that Messi isn't eclipsed by anyone and pulls off an incredible retention of the Golden Ball?
He has already won the award twice in his career and on home soil at least in terms of where he currently plies his trade at club level, can't be ruled out giving one last epic dance for the ages.
Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup goal record is also in his sights and after shrugging off a small injury scare in the build-up, looks set to spearhead Lionel Scaloni's attack again.
Anyone who would rule him out would be extremely foolish to do so.