World Cup 2026 Odds: Golden Ball Winner Odds & Picks

There are few more prestigious honors in world soccer than winning the FIFA World Cup. This summer, the world’s best players will be in action, with each star involved looking to lead their nation to the most illustrious honor.

At the conclusion of the tournament, the Golden Ball will be handed to the player deemed to have been the standout star in the tournament. You can find the odds and our Golden Ball winner picks here.

World Cup 2026: Golden Ball Winner Odds

World Cup Golden Ball: Previous Winners

The World Cup Golden Ball has been awarded in every edition of the World Cup since 1982. Lionel Messi is the only player to have been awarded the accolade on two occasions, while South American nations have won the award in three of the last four competitions. The most recent World Cup Golden Ball winners can be found below:

• Qatar 2022: Lionel Messi
• Russia 2018: Luka Modric
• Brazil 2014: Lionel Messi
• South Africa 2010: Diego Forlan
• Germany 2006: Zinedine Zidane

ALSO SEE: World Cup 2026 Outright Winner Odds, Preview, and Picks

Who Will Win The World Cup Golden Ball in 2026?

While it is typically expected that the winner of the Golden Ball will represent the World Cup winners, recent history would suggest that this isn’t always the case. Five of the last six winners of the Golden Ball played for nations that didn’t win the most prestigious honor in world soccer.

Harry Kane is a solid favorite in the betting this summer. The England captain will be the key star for the Three Lions in Group L, and he is likely to accumulate a high number of goals following matches against Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. If England are to go all the way this summer, then they will need Kane to be at his very best.

Lamine Yamal emerged as one of the best players in world soccer at EURO 2024, playing a star role as Spain won the honor for the third time. The teenager is expected to continue his rise to superstardom this summer, but he could be a vulnerable selection in the Golden Ball betting, as he will likely be rested after returning from injury in the nation’s first two fixtures.

France is expected to go deep in this summer’s World Cup, meaning that it is unsurprising that both Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise feature among the top contenders for the Golden Ball. The latter has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga, recording 35 goal involvements in 32 appearances.

World Cup Golden Ball Picks

We will side with a player that we believe will be on the winning team at this summer’s World Cup. Bruno Fernandes has been the standout playmaker in Europe in 2025-26, and his natural ability to create and convert chances will ensure that Portugal are hard to overcome. At odds of +2500, he could be the standout value play when making World Cup Golden Ball picks.