The 2026 Ballon d'Or race has undergone a significant reshuffle following the opening weekend of Europe's top leagues, with Kylian Mbappe now leading the rankings after Barcelona's 5-0 thrashing of Elche and Paris Saint-Germain's 2-2 draw at Rennes, according to Score 90.
Barcelona's Dominant Start to La Liga Title Defence
Barcelona kicked off their La Liga title defence with a commanding 5-0 victory at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on matchday one, extending their winning run against Elche to 13 matches in all competitions. It was also the 11th consecutive La Liga defeat for the hosts against Barcelona, their longest such losing streak in the competition.
According to ESPN, Raphinha and Fermín López each scored a brace, while summer signing Karim Adeyemi also found the net for Hansi Flick's side. The victory represented the biggest margin of win in La Liga so far this season, underscoring Barcelona's ambition to secure a third consecutive league title, having beaten arch-rivals Real Madrid in each of the last two campaigns.
Lamine Yamal, a key Ballon d'Or contender, was instrumental throughout the match, continuing to cement his status as one of the world's most exciting talents. His performance contributed to Barcelona's emphatic start and helped him rise to second in the latest Ballon d'Or rankings.
Ferran Torres Rescues PSG from Defeat
Across the border in France, Paris Saint-Germain endured a difficult start to their Ligue 1 campaign, falling 2-0 behind to Rennes before new signing Ferran Torres turned the game on its head, as reported by BBC Sport. PSG boss Luis Enrique brought Torres off the bench at half-time in place of reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, and the 26-year-old responded with goals in the 71st and 82nd minutes to earn a 2-2 draw.
Torres, who completed a reported £42.7 million move from Barcelona on August 15, had also scored the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final against Argentina. His debut performance immediately raised questions about PSG's form as the French champions dropped points in their very first fixture.
Updated Ballon d'Or Rankings and Upcoming Ceremony
The weekend's results triggered a notable reshuffle in the Ballon d'Or standings. According to Score 90, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has moved to the top of the rankings and is now the frontrunner for the award. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona sits second, followed by Harry Kane of Bayern Munich, Barcelona midfielder Rodri, and Manchester City's Erling Haaland to complete the top five.
Dembele dropped to sixth following PSG's failure to win, with Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Lionel Messi of Inter Miami rounding out the top ten. The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026. In a historic departure, the event will be held in London rather than Paris for the first time in the award's history, marking the 70th anniversary of the prize and paying tribute to its inaugural 1956 recipient, Sir Stanley Matthews.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported about PSG midfielder Vitinha's picks for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, emphasising his belief that three of his teammates stand out as deserving candidates. While notable players like Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane are in the mix, Vitinha's exclusion of rising star Lamine Yamal prompts questions about the young forward's impact following Spain's World Cup triumph.
