Kylian Mbappe has significantly boosted his chances of winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or despite strong competition from the likes of Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi.

The France captain has been electric at this World Cup, scoring eight goals in six games.

He was once again pivotal as France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-finals, opening the scoring after missing a first-half penalty.

Mbappe’s performances have seen him climb to the top of the Ballon d’Or power rankings, overtaking his French teammate Dembélé, England and Bayern Munich star Harry Kane, and Lionel Messi.

Mbappe has never won the award but came close in 2022-23, finishing third behind Erling Haaland and eventual winner Messi.

According to Polymarket, he now leads with a 28% chance of winning, ahead of Harry Kane (25.4%), Ousmane Dembélé (15%), and Lionel Messi (13%).

Kylian Mbappé has surpassed Harry Kane for 1st place in the Ballon d’Or rankings on Polymarket:

28% – Mbappé
25% – Kane
15% – Dembélé
13% – Messi

Senegalese player and former Liverpool reliable, Sadio Mane has announced his retirement from the Senegalese national team.

In a press release, the Al-Nasir and Senegalese striker writes in particular:

Know that I have sacrificed everything for this flag. I have given the best of myself and have always fought fiercely for our homeland.

Your constant support has been the driving force behind my success.

Tomorrow, it is with pleasure that I will put my experience at the service of the Nation, whether within a technical staff, on a coaching bench, or in governing bodies.

Paul Pogba’s spell at Monaco could be cut short after making just six appearances in an injury-plagued debut season.

Pogba joined the Ligue 1 outfit last June after his original four-year doping ban was reduced to 18 months.

The 33-year-old signed a two-year deal at Monaco, but his 2025-26 campaign proved to be a nightmare as he only started one match and played a grand total of just 115 minutes across all of his outings.

The former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder hoped to make France’s World Cup squad but those plans went awry due to his fitness issues and performance levels.

Pogba – who earned £290,000-per-week in his second spell at United – is reportedly earning below £44,000-per-week at Monaco, but despite the relatively low top-flight income he could be sold as the club look to lower their wage bill under the DNCG (French football’s financial watchdog) regulations.

Speaking to Get French Football News, Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro said: ‘It is a complicated topic because we have a lot of respect for Paul, for the person he is. Since he arrived, he has been very positive.

‘It is also true that, last year, the project didn’t work well because when we started with him in the summer, the expectations were very different to what happened. I think that we have to be fair with him, follow his preparation every week, how he will progress physically and technically and then it will be the manager’s decision.

‘We have the summer to see what level we will see from Pogba. He could [leave at the end of the summer]. With Paul, it has always been a very open and transparent relationship.

‘If, at some point, the expectations of the player are different to the expectations of the club, we will have to speak to find a solution. The performance will give all the answers that we need. Maybe he will stay, maybe he will leave.’

Pogba was emotional when he signed for Monaco last summer, describing his comeback as a second chance after what he called ‘a time of darkness’.

The midfielder told Daily Mail Sport in 2024 that he discovered news of his reduced ban while preparing for a film premiere, adding: ‘We went through hell. A time of darkness. But this is my second chance, I have to use it.’