Kane edges out Yamal to win award 3 days ahead of Ballon d’Or ceremony

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has beaten Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé to emerge as the best player of the 2025-2026 season in Spanish newspaper Marca’s annual Top 100 Players ranking, just few days to the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony. Kane claimed the top spot in the ranking released on Friday, three days before the Ballon d’Or ceremony, with Yamal finishing second and Mbappé taking third place.

The annual ranking, Marca’s Top 100 Players, was compiled with input from a panel of more than 200 former players, journalists and analysts from around the world, who assessed performances for club and country throughout the season. Manchester City midfielder Rodri finished fourth, followed by Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in fifth place.

Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi occupied sixth position, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz, who came seventh. Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise finished eighth, while his France teammate Ousmane Dembélé, also of PSG, placed ninth. Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí completed the top 10. Bellingham finishes ahead of Vinícius Real Madrid’s leading players were spread across the ranking, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham finishing 15th, ahead of Brazilian forward Vinícius Júnior, who placed 22nd.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois came 28th, while Turkish midfielder Arda Güler finished 47th. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, secured 33rd position, while his teammate João Félix finished 70th. Barcelona stars feature prominently Barcelona had several players among the top-ranked performers, with Brazilian winger Raphinha finishing 13th and Spanish midfielder Pedri occupying 14th place.

Ferran Torres came 17th, while Dani Olmo finished 21st. Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García placed 42nd, with defender Eric García coming in at 55th. Paris Saint-Germain also recorded a strong showing, with three players in the top 10: Kvaratskhelia, Fabián Ruiz and Dembélé. Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi finished 20th, while Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Marquinhos and Willian Pacho also featured in the ranking.

The list included players competing outside Europe’s major leagues, with Messi representing Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and Ronaldo featuring for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Kane’s position at the top of the ranking places the England international ahead of several high-profile contenders for individual honours as attention turns to the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday.

Marca’s Top 10 1.Harry Kane — Bayern Munich 2. Lamine Yamal — Barcelona 3. Kylian Mbappé — Real Madrid 4. Rodri — Manchester City 5. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — Paris Saint-Germain 6. Lionel Messi — Inter Miami 7. Fabián Ruiz — Paris Saint-Germain 8. Michael Olise — Bayern Munich 9. Ousmane Dembélé — Paris Saint-Germain 10. Pau Cubarsí — Barcelona Vanguard News