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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 04: Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates the team's 1-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Philadelphia Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Earlier in the week we posted another sponsored poll that asked Carty Free readers to go back and vote, now that we’re in the quarterfinal round, on who they thought would win the World Cup. This time we also added a question on the Golden Ball winner as well — the best player at the tournament (regardless of how many goals scored).
You might recall the first time we asked the question of who will win the World Cup, Spain was the clear winner. But have things changed now? You bet they have. Carty Free readers have had their say and France is the big winner with 61% of the vote.
World Cup winner
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This is a Premier League blog with a substantial English readership, so I’m not at all surprised that a fifth of poll respondents think football’s coming home this summer. Optimism? Perhaps. But England HAVE looked very good this tournament, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham banging in goals and Djed Spence playing lock-down defense on the wing. I do think England are likely at least even with Argentina to make the final in that half of the bracket, but they’ve gotta get past Erling Haaland and Norway first.
As for the Golden Ball — it’s not a runaway, but there is a clear leader, and it’s France’s Kylian Mbappe.
World Cup Golden Ball
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This one surprises me a bit, since I figured more people would vote for Old Man Messi, but there’s no question that Mbappe has been an absolute force for France in this tournament. And remember, the Golden Ball is for the best player at the tournament, while the Golden Boot is for highest goal scorer. Those two awards can overlap, but they’re not always awarded to the same person.
Meanwhile, Other gets 9%, which is clearly a reaction to me putting Lamine Yamal in the poll and not Harry Kane. Fine. You got me. Won’t do that again.
What do y’all think? Are you surprised by the results? Want a do-over? Put your reactions in the comments.
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