Ballon d’Or race heats up as Kylian Mbappé faces podium doubt

Inside a brightly lit studio in Londres, anticipation hangs over the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony scheduled for 26 October. The award, now in its 70th edition, will crown a successor to Ousmane Dembélé, while speculation swirls around France’s own Kylian Mbappé.

Predictions unveiled on W9

Cyril Hanouna disclosed his personal ranking on the W9 programme Tout Beau Tout N9uf, after the voting closed on 28 September. He claimed the French captain would finish fifth, just ahead of Ousmane Dembélé. The host even teased the audience with the line “Vous avez des informations ou vous êtes médium ?”.

The speculation was framed as “Comme Kylian Mbappé?”. According to Hanouna, the podium will be dominated by Rodri, the 2024 winner now placed third, Harry Kane in second, and Lamine Yamal at the summit. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is slated for fourth place. Michael Olise, another French international, appears ninth, trailing Fabian Ruiz and Lionel Messi.

Mbappé, who has repeatedly told French media that this is his year, may not even reach the podium, Hanouna warned. The striker, who plies his trade at Real Madrid, has hinted at disappointment if he ends up outside the top three.

The early revelations add a fresh layer of intrigue to the award race, with fans and pundits alike awaiting the official results in London. Whether the predictions hold true will shape the narrative of the 70th Ballon d’Or.