Dragon Ball Reveals Top 21 Most Popular Characters: Surprises and Snubs

The Dragon Ball franchise is crowning its most popular character in a historic vote called “Dragon Ball The One,” and the partial results, released in January 2026, already hold major surprises. The official poll, which kicked off last November with more than 200 options, has reached its final stage with only 21 heroes and villains left after several elimination rounds. The big Top 10 reveal and the crowning of the overall champion are set for January 24, 2026, on the official Dragon Ball YouTube channel. This event matters because it captures the global mood of fans after decades of the series, serving as a definitive popularity barometer for the universe created by Akira Toriyama.

To reach this final list, the global vote went through three distinct stages, cutting a large number of characters at each step. The process filtered everything from the most obvious leads to curious supporting figures, producing a Top 21 that is already dividing fans. With voting set to close in December, organizers are now tallying the final votes for the grand reveal, which promises to crown the most beloved character of all time. Expectations are therefore sky-high over whether Goku will hold the lead or Vegeta will pull off a stunning comeback.

More Details and Ranking Surprises

The results delivered shocking omissions and unexpected placements. The fact that neither Frieza, seen by many as the greatest villain, nor Krillin cracked the Top 10 left the community stunned. Yet characters like Yamcha and Raditz earned spots among the 21 finalists, sparking heated debate on social media. In addition, the Briefs family’s pet cat became the last “meme pick” still in the running, while Android 17 returned to the vote as a revival pick, claiming the No. 21 slot.

Another eye-catching point was the early elimination of Future Trunks, who finished outside the Top 5. Meanwhile, Cell ranking ahead of Frieza may come down to nostalgia among fans who grew up watching the Cell arc in the ’90s, especially in English-speaking countries. Even so, Android 18 stands out as the only woman in the top ten, a reflection of her strength and narrative importance. The final battle thus looks like it comes down to Goku and Vegeta, the two most iconic Saiyans, although Piccolo, Toriyama’s own favorite character, also commands strong support. Who will take the crown? The final answer arrives later this month.