Paris Saint-Germain’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup has added another layer to the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

The French champions continued their impressive run of success by claiming another European trophy on Wednesday night, strengthening the claims of some of their key players ahead of this year’s prestigious individual award.

PSG took the lead through Khvicha Kvaratskhelia before Brian Madjo equalised for Aston Villa shortly before half-time.

Desire Doué restored PSG’s advantage in the second half, scoring the decisive goal to secure another piece of European silverware for the Parisian club.

The victory gives PSG back-to-back UEFA Super Cup titles and further enhances the Ballon d’Or credentials of their leading stars, according to BBC Sport.

However, the race remains fiercely contested, with performances during the 2026 FIFA World Cup also expected to have a major influence on the final voting.

Here are the current top five contenders:

1. Harry Kane – England/Bayern Munich

Harry Kane currently has the strongest statistical case for the award.

The Bayern Munich striker scored an impressive 73 goals during the season, helping the German giants secure a domestic double and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

His extraordinary goalscoring numbers have placed him at the top of the rankings.

2. Ousmane Dembélé – France/PSG

The reigning Ballon d’Or winner remains firmly in contention after another outstanding campaign.

Dembélé scored six goals at the 2026 World Cup, including a hat-trick against Norway, while also playing a key part in PSG’s dominance domestically and in Europe.

The club’s continued success, including Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup triumph, has further strengthened his case.

3. Lamine Yamal – Spain/Barcelona

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal remains among the leading candidates after helping his club win LaLiga and the Supercopa de España.

The Spain international’s candidacy has also benefited from his country’s success at the World Cup, although his individual performances at the tournament were less influential than some of his rivals.

4. Rodri – Spain/Manchester City

Former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has also strengthened his case following an impressive World Cup campaign.

The Manchester City midfielder won the World Cup Golden Ball after featuring in all eight of Spain’s matches.

He also helped City win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, although the club missed out on both the Premier League and Champions League.

5. Kylian Mbappé – France/Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé enjoyed a remarkable World Cup, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists as France finished fourth.

The Real Madrid forward also made history by becoming the first player to win the Golden Boot awards in LaLiga, the Champions League and the World Cup in the same calendar year. (Saturday Vanguard)

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