Ballon d’Or 2026: Bellingham and Vitinha among surprise rankings

Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, but the final standings prompted widespread debate after several leading players finished well below expectations in one of the strongest contests for the award in recent years.

Spanish newspaper AS highlighted a number of results it considered unexpected, including Jude Bellingham’s 11th-place finish. The Real Madrid midfielder was ranked alongside Vitinha, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, while Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi finished 12th and Vitinha 14th.

Bellingham misses out on top 10

Bellingham’s failure to make the top 10 was one of the most notable surprises in the vote.

The England international was recognised for his performances with Real Madrid and his impact at the World Cup, where he scored seven goals. However, AS argued that he deserved a higher position and that 11th did not reflect the expectations surrounding him before the rankings were announced.

Vitinha, meanwhile, dropped to 14th despite playing a significant role in Paris Saint-Germain’s achievements, including their second successive Champions League triumph.

The Portugal midfielder had finished third in the previous edition after scoring eight goals and providing five assists. In the most recent season, he registered seven goals and 10 assists – figures broadly similar to his earlier return.

AS suggested that Portugal’s performance at the World Cup may have influenced voters, leaving Vitinha outside the leading positions despite remaining one of the key players in Luis Enrique’s side.

Cubarsi’s 12th-place finish also generated discussion. The Barcelona defender was left outside the top 10 despite his contribution to both his club and the Spain national team.

Supporters debated the result on social media, with some arguing that the teenager’s performances during the 2025-26 season deserved greater recognition, particularly given his importance to both Barcelona and Spain.

Paris Saint-Germain players lower than expected

Fabian Ruiz’s 10th-place finish raised further questions over how his achievements had been assessed. He helped Paris Saint-Germain win major honours and was among the players to combine significant club and international success during the season.

Ousmane Dembele finished seventh, while Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was sixth. AS said Kvaratskhelia could have ranked higher considering his performances and contribution to Paris Saint-Germain’s European campaign.

The report also noted that, despite having a strong presence among the 30 nominees, Paris Saint-Germain did not receive what it regarded as the expected recognition in the final order. The club was the best represented among the nominees, with Ferran Torres included among the names listed.

Michael Olise finished ninth, behind eighth-placed Erling Haaland, despite enjoying an impressive season with Bayern Munich.

The inclusion of players such as Sadio Mane and Quinones, alongside the absence of prominent names including Raphinha, Pedri, Warren Zaire-Emery, Mikel Oyarzabal and Unai Simon, also led to questions about the voting criteria.

Raphinha’s omission was singled out as one of the most striking decisions, given the Barcelona forward’s outstanding season and what many observers considered a clear gap between his performances and the final rankings.