With the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching, speculation continues over who will claim football’s most prestigious individual award. Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal headline the debate, but no clear favorite has emerged ahead of the event in London.
Mbappé can point to his attacking form and his brace in Sunday’s 2-1 Clasico, while Kane boasts impressive statistics for Bayern Munich. Yamal also has a strong case thanks to his performances for Barcelona and Spain’s World Cup triumph. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s announced return to the ceremony after their 2024 boycott has fueled speculation about Mbappé’s chances. However, attendance does not determine the winner, and the French forward’s lack of a major team trophy could weaken his case against rivals with greater collective success.
Predictions remain divided between Kane and Yamal, while Lionel Messi and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia have also entered the conversation. According to RMC Sport, Kane and his entourage plan to attend the ceremony, while Yamal will join Barcelona president Joan Laporta and a Catalan delegation. Former Ballon d’Or chief Pascal Ferré explained that organizers no longer inform winners before the ceremony, a practice introduced in 2024. As a result, the suspense will remain until the organizers announce the winner in London.
