Ballon d'Or in London: rumours place Mbappé at the top

On the eve of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, scheduled in London, suspense hangs over the future winner. The Spanish Lamine Yamal and the English Harry Kane are eager to possibly succeed Ousmane Dembélé, while Kylian Mbappé emerges as the main outsider.

Rumors around Mbappé

Rumors are circulating that the captain of the French team could win the trophy. “I’ve spoken with fairly well‑informed people. They’re starting to get the feeling that this is the direction we’re heading,” streamer Zack Nani said on Sunday.

His presence at the London Palladium, where the ceremony will be held, has been confirmed, even though most of the contenders will also be there.

Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid striker, will face the Clasico against FC Barcelona tonight, but he did not win any major trophy last season, despite a very aggressive media campaign.

“For me, a Ballon d’Or isn’t something you claim, it’s something you earn. We’ll see in 24 hours whether he was right to go onto that pitch or not,” said Pascal Ferré, former editor‑in‑chief of France Football, on RMC.

If Kylian Mbappé wins, the victory could spark fierce controversy, given the lack of major titles the previous season and the perception of an overly promotional campaign.