The Ballon d’Or has become increasingly political, with player branding, club lobbying and voting blocs all playing their part. But what should the award recognise? In the latest episode of Copa Independent, Lawrence Ostlere, Miguel Delaney and Richard Jolly debate whether it should go to the best player or the most valuable over a 12-month period — and how much weight should be given to trophies, stats, influence, “magic” and the impact of World Cup years.

The trio assess a wide-open field of contenders for the 2026 award, including Mbappé, Yamal, Kane, Rodri, Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé and Olise, before revealing their own top fives — and their differing picks for the winner. They round things off with a Ballon d’Or quiz.

Tune in to Copa Independent every week to hear our top football writers debate the biggest stories, arguments and talking points in the game – cutting through the noise to make sense of what matters. Available on Apple Podcasts, , and YouTube