Yamal, Mbappé, Kane and Messi in contention to win the Ballon d'Or. Here's what to know
The Ballon d'Or ceremony is set to honor the world's best soccer players, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi emerging as top contenders. The event marks a potential transition from the long-standing Messi-Ronaldo era to a new generation of talent.
Why it matters
The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in professional soccer, reflecting the current hierarchy of global sports talent.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The Ballon d'Or winners will be announced on Monday with a new generation of soccer stars, led by Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, ready to stamp their name on the trophy that for so long was a personal duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi, of course, is still in the running for soccer's top individual prize at the age of 39 after his outstanding performances at the World Cup . And while it feels like this is the start of the Yamal-Mbappé era, Harry Kane's outrageous goalscoring exploits could yet push that rivalry back by another year.
The women's award, won by Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati for the past three years, will go to someone else this time around. Bonmati is not on the shortlist after breaking her leg in December.
Also covering this story
3 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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