The Golden Ball is the ultimate prize any lad kicking a football about in the park dreams of getting his hands on. It’s FIFA’s top award for the best player at the World Cup, a massive tradition going all the way back to 1982.
Officially, the FIFA Technical Study Group makes the final call, but let’s be honest, the bookies over here know exactly what they’re doing. They’ve already priced up who’s heading to North America in top form. And looking at the numbers from this season, it makes total sense why our boys and a few familiar Premier League faces are absolutely dominating the market.
The 5 Main Favourites for the Prize
If you want to know who’s moving the markets at the bookmakers, I’ve picked out the five main contenders. And leading the line, obviously, is our number 9:
- Harry Kane (England): Our skipper is the clear favourite at the bookies, and rightly so. The striker is coming off an absolute stormer of a season, banging in 46 goals and setting up 14. He’s the main man for the Three Lions, and if we make a deep run, it’s hard to see anyone else taking the prize. He’s leading the pack on his own at 8/1.
- Lamine Yamal (Spain): This Spanish kid is a proper nightmare for any defence. He managed 16 goals and 11 assists this season. He’s quick, his vision is unreal, and he’s practically running the Spanish team with a frightening ease. The European market massively respects his talent, pricing him up at 9/1.
- Kylian Mbappé (France): You simply can’t leave the French superstar out, especially as he’s our biggest rival just across the Channel. He was brilliant this season with 24 goals and 5 assists. When it comes to the World Cup, the bloke just turns into a different beast. He’s well in the mix at 11/1.
- Bruno Fernandes (Portugal): A pure talent we know all too well from Old Trafford. The Manchester United maestro is the one pulling the strings for Portugal, creating chances out of absolutely nothing and stepping up in massive games. For anyone who watches him week in, week out over here, his odds offer brilliant value at 21/1.
- Erling Haaland (Norway): The big man tore it up in our backyard again, smashing in 27 goals and 8 assists for City in the league. Norway might not be a global powerhouse tipped for the final, but he’s such a ridiculous goalscoring machine that a brilliant group stage alone could see him steal the show. He’s sitting at 26/1.
Other Names on the Radar
A World Cup is a short tournament and absolutely anything can happen in a month of football. The competition is going to be incredibly fierce, so have a look at this list of 17 other top-class players who are running as outsiders and paying very well at the bookies:
- Michael Olise (France): 11/1
- Lionel Messi (Argentina): 11/1
- Vinicius Jr. (Brazil): 15/1
- Raphinha (Brazil): 21/1
- Jude Bellingham (England): 26/1
- Declan Rice (England): 26/1
- Rodri (Spain): 26/1
- Pedri (Spain): 26/1
- Rayan Cherki (France): 26/1
- Ousmane Dembele (France): 26/1
- Vitinha (Portugal): 26/1
- Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain): 26/1
- Fabian Ruiz (Spain): 34/1
- Neymar (Brazil): 34/1
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): 34/1
- Bernardo Silva (Portugal): 34/1
- Cole Palmer (England): 51/1
- Bukayo Saka (England): 51/1
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Reviewed by , Oddsmaker
• Updated on 14/05/2026
Bet365 Bookmaker
Expert Verdict:
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The stage is well and truly set, mate. The numbers speak for themselves. Now it’s just a matter of getting a pint in, crossing our fingers, backing the lads, and hoping for the best. It’s coming home!
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