World Cup set to be the ultimate 2026 Ballon d'Or proving ground
Under the season-spanning voting format, the North American World Cup will be the final major test for Dembélé, Vitinha and others looking to reshape the Ballon d'Or race.
Under the season-spanning voting format, the North American World Cup will be the final major test for Dembélé, Vitinha and others looking to reshape the Ballon d'Or race.
With the field expanded to 48 teams, the top two from each of the 12 groups plus the eight best third-place finishers—32 teams in all—advance to the knockout stage; Portugal’s No. 5 FIFA ranking could prove decisive in the tiebreakers.
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha placed Bruno Fernandes in his global top four and made no mention of Declan Rice, as debate in the English press over the Premier League's best player intensifies.
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