The Dragon Ball franchise is determining its most popular character in a historic vote called Dragon Ball The One⬝, and the partial results, released in January 2026, already bring major surprises. The official poll, which started last November with over 200 options, has reached its final phase with only 21 heroes and villains remaining, after several elimination rounds. The big reveal of the Top 10 and the absolute champion is scheduled for January 24, 2026, on the official Dragon Ball YouTube channel. This event is significant because it captures the global sentiment of fans after decades of the series, serving as a definitive popularity gauge in the universe created by Akira Toriyama.
To reach this final list, the global vote went through three distinct phases, eliminating a large number of characters at each stage. This process filtered from the most obvious protagonists to curious secondary figures, resulting in a Top 21 that is already causing controversy among fans. With voting expected to close in December, organizers are now tallying the final votes for the big reveal, which promises to crown the most beloved character of all time. Therefore, expectations are huge to see if Goku will maintain the lead or if Vegeta will pull off a surprising upset.
Additional Details and Ranking Surprises
The results featured shocking absences and unexpected placements. The fact that neither Frieza, considered by many the greatest villain, nor Krillin made it into the Top 10 left the community perplexed. However, characters like Yamcha and Raditz secured a spot among the 21 finalists, sparking plenty of discussion on social media. Additionally, the Briefs family's pet cat became the last representative of the meme picks⬝ in the competition, while Android 17 returned to the vote as a revival pick, securing the 21st slot.
Another point that drew attention was the early elimination of Future Trunks, who fell out of the Top 5. Meanwhile, Cell's presence ahead of Frieza can be explained by the nostalgia of fans who grew up watching the Cell arc in the 1990s, especially in English-speaking countries. Despite this, Android 18 stands out as the only woman in the top ten, a reflection of her strength and narrative importance. Thus, the final battle seems to boil down to Goku and Vegeta, the two most iconic Saiyans, although Piccolo, Toriyama's own favorite character, also has strong appeal. Who will take the crown? The final answer arrives later this month.