Who deserves the Ballon d'Or: the teenage sensation who conquered the world, the prolific England captain or the dazzling winger who helped Paris Saint-Germain retain their European crown?As the football world prepares for tonight's ceremony in London, the people around football are debating who deserves it most.European football expert Guillem Balague told the BBC that he believes the Barcelona star is destined to win, pointing to his individual brilliance, team success and unmistakable aura.Good morning London! Today is the day! #ballondor https://t.co/U88o5mLu0B— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 26, 2026 "There is only one Spaniard who deserves it, and that's Lamine Yamal," Balague argued, predicting that the teenager would take home the award.Rory Smith, a guest on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues, also expects Yamal to prevail, believing the World Cup triumph could prove decisive. However, he questioned whether the winger was Spain's most important player during the tournament.Julien Laurens believes the Georgian should be rewarded for his outstanding Champions League performances and decisive contribution to PSG's European success."He deserves to win the Ballon d'Or for being the best player in the world," Laurens said, explaining why Kvaratskhelia would be his choice, even though he expects Yamal to win.##NAJAVA_MECA_10055713##Smith also backed the PSG star, praising his influence in European club football and arguing that players should not be penalised because their countries cannot realistically compete for the World Cup.Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock shared that admiration, describing Kvaratskhelia as "unbelievable" and highlighting his impact in Paris.Harry Kane has a powerful case of his own. The England captain scored 73 goals in 65 games, including 36 in the Bundesliga, while helping Bayern Munich win the league and cup double, according to the figures cited by BBC Sport.Harambee Stars attacker explains why he snubbed Gor Mahia for Nairobi UnitedFormer England captain Alan Shearer believes those numbers should settle the debate."The winner of the Ballon d'Or should be Harry Kane," he said, describing the striker's output for Bayern and England as "absolutely sensational".Danny Murphy also backed Kane, praising his relentless goalscoring and calling him the best centre-forward in the world over the past 12 months.Kane's challenge may be that the Ballon d'Or is not decided by statistics alone. Yamal has the global spotlight, Kvaratskhelia has the Champions League pedigree, and Kane has the numbers to rival them both. Tonight, one of three very different cases will win out. Will it be Yamal's brilliance, Kvara's European magic or Kane's extraordinary goalscoring record?
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