The World Cup has often strengthened a player’s case for the Ballon d’Or. Across successive tournaments, a handful of individuals converted international triumph into the sport’s highest individual prize in the same year.

Bobby Charlton received the Ballon d’Or on Dec. 27 following England’s 1966 World Cup success. A decade after Stanley Matthews won the inaugural prize, Charlton’s performances for England were decisive, including a semi-final in which he struck a brace against Eusébio’s Portugal. The deciding vote was cast by the Portuguese journalist Fernando Couto e Santos from Mundo Desportivo.

Paolo Rossi’s Italy story spans two tournaments. Three goals at the 1978 World Cup earned him a place in FIFA’s Team of the Tournament, but Italy finished fourth and he placed fifth in that year’s Ballon d’Or. Four years later Rossi scored six goals across the final three matches in Spain, including the opener in a 3–1 victory over West Germany in the final. Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli also scored in that final.

Lothar Matthäus powered West Germany’s 1990 charge. Already established through success with Bayern Munich and then Inter, he scored four times at the tournament, including a decisive penalty against Czechoslovakia, and finished runner-up for the competition’s Golden Ball to Salvatore Schillaci. Matthäus prevailed in the Ballon d’Or vote over Schillaci and Andreas Brehme.

Zinedine Zidane arrived at the 1998 World Cup after claiming the Serie A title with Juventus, was sent off in the group stage against Saudi Arabia, then delivered two first-half headers to defeat Brazil in the final as France won. Zidane collected both Player of the Match and the Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo’s 2002 World Cup haul — four group goals, a last-16 strike against Belgium, the semi winner against Türkiye and a two-goal final against Germany — was followed by a move to Real Madrid and Ballon d’Or success later that year.

Fabio Cannavaro, one of only three defenders to win the Ballon d’Or, led Italy’s resilient defence in 2006 after Juventus’s 2005–06 title was later revoked. Italy kept multiple clean sheets en route to a final settled on penalties after Zinedine Zidane’s sending off; Cannavaro joined FIFA’s All-Star Team and won the Ballon d’Or.

The vote’s switch to a seasonal cycle and the winter scheduling of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar meant Lionel Messi did not receive his record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or until late 2023. Messi scored five goals leading up to the final, recovered from an opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, then scored twice in the 3–3 final with France and helped Argentina to victory on penalties under Lionel Scaloni before his retirement.

Mauricio Pochettino has made plain that a return to England’s top flight remains central to his long-term goals even as he prepares the U.S. men’s national team for World Cup duty. In an interview with BBC Sport released the day after the World Cup draw he said plainly: “The Premier League is the best in the world.”

Pochettino outlined a clear appetite to return to the competition he described as “the most competitive league.” “Of course I miss it. I am so happy in the USA, but I am always thinking about returning one day. It is the most competitive league, and of course I would love to come back again.”

On the field with the USMNT, Pochettino’s side were listed as co-hosts and placed in a group described in the draft as relatively kind. He has already overseen victories against their two confirmed opponents, Australia and Paraguay, and the team will next face the playoff winner from UEFA’s pathway C, which could be any of Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo.

The draft also summarises Pochettino’s recent club record. It lists Southampton finishes of 14th in 2012–13 and 8th in 2013–14. His Tottenham seasons are given as 2014–15 5th, 2015–16 3rd, 2016–17 2nd, 2017–18 3rd, 2018–19 4th and 2019–20 14th. The 2023–24 season at Chelsea is listed as 6th.

Pochettino remains explicit about unfinished business from his time in England. The draft recalls his tenure at Tottenham, noting he “never finished lower than fifth with Spurs and took the north London outfit to second place in 2016–17.” Tottenham also reached the 2019 Champions League final under his watch, losing 2–0 to Liverpool. When asked for one remaining ambition he replied without hesitation: “To win the Premier League and the Champions League.” He added: “We were so close in Tottenham,” and “I want to achieve this. I am still young, I have the energy, experience and motivation to try in the future.”

Raphinha has drawn a clear line from the present to the future, naming Lamine Yamal and Estêvão as the young players most likely to dominate world football for years. The Brazilian winger, who was in contention to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, bases that view on close, first-hand experience. He shares a dressing room with Yamal at Barça and links up with Estêvão for Brazil, giving him a daily perspective on both players.

Raphinha spoke in unambiguous terms about their potential. “To me they are to players of a spectacular level,” Raphinha said . “I think that in the coming years, the next many years of their career, they’ll be the best players in the world.

“I’m sure of this because I work with Lamine [Yamal] at the club and with Estêvão in the national team and to me, they’re two tremendous talents. Being at the top depends a lot more on them than anything else.

“I’m sure they’re on the right path to be the best at their positions, at their clubs, at their national teams. I try to help them with the experience I have, but I’m sure they’re talents that will fly for many years.”

Raphinha’s optimism comes as football prepares to mark the final World Cup appearances of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the pair who have been the game’s reference points and who won 13 Ballons d’Or between them. That transition in the sport’s hierarchy frames the significance of the next generation.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and teammate Marc Cucurella have also commented on the pair’s impact, each emphasising enjoyment of the game and the players’ shared qualities. “It’s nice for people that love football to watch players like Estêvão, like Lamine Yamal, like Pedri. This is the beauty of football. So, we are happy that Estêvão is with us,” the Blues boss said .

“For me personally, the most important thing for Estêvão is that he has to enjoy football, he has to be happy. He has not to think about being better than this player or the other player, he has just to be better than himself day by day.”

“Very special players, they have a lot of talent,” Cucurella said . “They always want the ball, they always try to do one by ones. They can decide games.