Predicting the Ballon d'Or winners for the next 5 years

2024 Ballon d'Or winner - Kylian Mbappe

By 2024, Kylian Mbappe might have secured a dream switch and settled down properly at Real Madrid. The team is likely to be built around him and he will run riot in La Liga just like a certain Cristiano Ronaldo did in the last decade.

Mbappe will be around 25 and entering his peak years. He will be scoring for fun but the Frenchman will have Erling Haaland hot on his trails. But between the two, Mbappe is likely to be the first to get his hands around the Ballon d'Or trophy.

It will be the first year of the emergence of what is likely to be a duopoly similar to the Lionel Messi - Cristiano Ronaldo one.

2025 Ballon d'Or winner - Erling Haaland

2025 will be the year when Erling Haaland strikes back. The Norwegian striker will have earned his big move and hit his stride at one of Europe's top clubs. The incredibly athletic marksman will be breaking goalscoring records and being the difference maker for his side.

While his international career might not be nearly as fulfilling as his club career, Haaland will still be doing his country proud. He will pick up the European Golden Shoe along the way. However, it won't all be straightforward for Haaland as he will face tight competition from Kylian Mbappe.

Mohamed Salah will also be giving chase but he is likely to find the pair's prolific goalscoring rate hard to match. The 2025 Ballon d'Or race might go down to the wire but Haaland will come out on top.

2026 Ballon d'Or winner - Vinicius Jr.

Vinicius Jr. has proved beyond reasonable doubt this season that he is a serious footballer. The Brazilian international has been in scintillating form for Real Madrid and has already scored some worldies this season.

He has been tearing it up in La Liga and has been a nightmare to go up against for defenders thanks to his blistering pace and trickery. Vinicius Jr. will guide Brazil to World Cup glory in 2026. He will be the best player at the tournament and will have deservedly taken up the mantle from Neymar Jr. by then.

Vinicius Jr. will already be a club legend at Real Madrid by 2026 and Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland will be caught off-guard by his rise to the very top.