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

The French champions secured another European trophy on Wednesday night, further strengthening the credentials of several of their key players ahead of the prestigious individual award.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring for PSG before Brian Madjo equalised for Aston Villa before half-time. Désiré Doué restored PSG’s lead in the second half to seal the victory and another piece of silverware for the Ligue 1 giants.

PSG had already enjoyed a remarkable 2025-26 campaign, including their Champions League triumph over Arsenal in May, and their latest European success could prove significant in the Ballon d’Or voting.

However, the race remains highly competitive, with performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup also expected to influence the final rankings.

According to the current ranking, Harry Kane leads the contenders after an outstanding season with Bayern Munich. The England captain scored 73 goals as Bayern won the domestic double and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, remains a strong contender. The France international scored six goals at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Norway, while PSG’s domestic and European dominance has further strengthened his case.

Lamine Yamal is also in contention after helping Barcelona win LaLiga and the Supercopa de España. Spain’s World Cup success has added to his credentials despite a relatively quiet individual tournament.

Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, sits fourth after claiming the World Cup Golden Ball and helping Manchester City win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

Rounding out the top five is Kylian Mbappé, who enjoyed a prolific World Cup campaign with 10 goals and four assists as France finished fourth. He also became the first player to win the Golden Boot in LaLiga, the Champions League and the World Cup in the same calendar year.

However, Mbappé’s lack of major team trophies could count against him as the Ballon d’Or race enters its decisive stage.

With PSG continuing to collect trophies and the influence of the World Cup still fresh, the battle for the 2026 Ballon d’Or remains wide open.

PSG’s Super Cup triumph reshapes 2026 Ballon d’Or race

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