Overview
- CNN Sports and GOAL published pre‑tournament player watchlists and Golden Ball predictions in the days before the tournament that highlight a short list of contenders.
- Kylian Mbappé is widely cited by writers as a leading Golden Ball candidate thanks to his prolific scoring and recent club form despite some recent injury questions.
- Erling Haaland is singled out as a must‑watch World Cup debutant and Vinícius Jr is flagged as Brazil’s key player who could drive his team into contention.
- Spain’s teenage winger Lamine Yamal is praised as a potential tournament game‑changer but a recurring hamstring issue is noted as a major uncertainty for his involvement.
- Writers also point to Michael Olise and midfield playmakers as dark‑horse candidates, and they note that the 48‑team format, 26‑player squads and new last‑32 knockout round expand the pool of possible standouts and make knockout contributions more decisive for Golden Ball picks.