Could it be a good omen for Harry Kane that for the first time in the Ballon d'Or's 70-year history the prestigious award ceremony will take place in his home town of London on Monday?
England captain and serial scorer Kane of Bayern Munich is in with a chance of winning the most important individual honour of his career for the first time.
Or will Kane have to give way to one of the Spanish World Cup winners, Lamine Yamal or Rodri? And what about World Cup top scorer Kylian Mbappé?
"Winning the Ballon d'Or would be a massive honour and a massive achievement. Monday night could become special for me," Kane has said.
What speaks in Harry Kane's favour - and what against him?
Kane's strongest argument is goals. He netted 61 for Bayern and 12 for England last season, six of which came at the World Cup where he helped the Three Lions to third place. With Bayern, he won a Bundesliga and German Cup double, and was Bundesliga top scorer for a third straight year.
However, the Bundesliga doesn't have the greatest reputation worldwide, as Bayern are virtually without competition.
What's still missing from his long career is a major international title. With Bayern, he was knocked out in the Champions League semi-finals by eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. His World Cup title bid also ended in the semi-finals when England lost against Argentina
What about the two World Cup winners, Rodri and Lamine Yamal?
"Of course there are brilliant players in England and Germany. But I think a Spaniard should win the award because our players are the best in the world in many respects - you simply cannot ignore them," Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has said.
Midfielder Rodri, was the heart of the Spanish team and was also named the World Cup's best player, though he has had a disappointing season with Manchester City before a summer move to Barcelona.
There he joined Yamal, whose genius speaks in his favour and who won the Spanish league title with Barça. But their Champions League campaign ended in the quarter-finals - and when it comes to goals, he is nowhere near Kane's level.
And Kylian Mbappé?
Top scorer at the World Cup in 2026 and all-time, in the Champions League and in LaLiga - French star striker Mbappé has also had a superb season personally.
But Mbappé won no titles with Real Madrid and France, who were knocked out by Spain in the World Cup semi-finals. That could once again stand in the way of him winning the Ballon d'Or. But it is hard to believe that the 2018 World Cup winner and 2022 runner-up has never managed to win the trophy.
Does veteran Lionel Messi stand a chance?
Unlikely. To stand a chance, he would probably have had to win the World Cup again with Argentina. Especially as he no longer plays on the big football stage, having moved to Inter Miami in the American MLS. His record of eight Ballon d'Or trophies is however unrivalled.
Is it worth putting in a stellar performance in the league at the weekend?
No. Votes for the Ballon d'Or were already cast at the end of September. Furthermore, the reference period runs from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, the day of the World Cup final.
Who organizes the vote and how is it carried out?
The award is presented by the France Football magazine in collaboration with European governing body UEFA. For the men's category, one sports journalist from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings votes; for the women's category, one from each of the top 50. Each juror selects ten players from a shortlist of 30 and awards between 15 and one point, depending on their ranking.
What is the World Footballer of the Year award all about?
This award continues to be organized by the world governing body, now under the name FIFA Best awards. Between 2010 and 2015 the World Footballer of the Year was awarded the Golden Ball as part of a collaboration between FIFA and France Football.
