Barcelona forward Raphinha has emerged as the surprise early frontrunner in the race for the 2027 Ballon d’Or after a stunning start to the new season.
His reinvention as a centre-forward has drawn inevitable comparisons with previous winners, combining relentless intensity with a remarkable goal contribution every 39 minutes played.
Raphinha has posted eleven goals and three assists so far this campaign, numbers that would be even more impressive had he not allowed Lamine Yamal to take a penalty against Levante.
Behind him, Kylian Mbappe is pushing hard, recently telling Diario AS: “I really want the Ballon d’Or to return to Real Madrid.”
Mbappe added: “It needs to come back to the Bernabeu, to the Madridistas, to return for all those people and give them something to be excited about. They deserve it more than anyone.”
Jose Mourinho’s influence at Real Madrid may prove crucial in giving Mbappe the platform to challenge for the biggest trophies and strengthen his individual case this season.
Lamine Yamal completes the top three, already recording eight goals and four assists across just seven matches and showing signs of making the biggest leap forward of his career so far.
The teenager has already won a European Championship and a World Cup, making his continued development under Hansi Flick at Barcelona all the more remarkable given he remains one of the youngest players in the game.
Harry Kane sits fourth in the rankings after a dominant 2025-26 European season in which he won a domestic treble and led the scoring charts, though Vincent Kompany’s Bundesliga champions are yet to hit their full stride this term.
Erling Haaland remains a constant threat, sitting top of the Premier League scoring charts and having already netted twice in the Champions League, including a decisive contribution in the Manchester derby.
Kvicha Kvaratskhelia of PSG enters the conversation as one of nine players from Luis Enrique’s squad nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or, reflecting the extraordinary depth of talent assembled at the club.
Martin Odegaard has caught the eye for Arsenal, already quadrupling his goal tally from last season as the Gunners continue to look like genuine European contenders heading into the campaign.
Jude Bellingham makes the list for Real Madrid, with Mourinho seemingly finding the best way to deploy the Englishman, though a podium finish may depend heavily on Los Blancos winning silverware.
Donyell Malen rounds out the top ten after a stunning start at Roma under Gian Piero Gasperini, averaging a goal every 96 minutes and leading the Capocannoniere race with six goals already.
Igor Matanovic of Freiburg earns a special mention, currently rated as WhoScored’s highest-rated player across Europe’s five major leagues after a blistering start to the Bundesliga season.