The suspense of the 2026 Ballon d’Or shakes Real Madrid
In the offices of France Football, at 10 a.m., the phone rings. It is Monday, October 26, the day the 2026 Ballon d’Or is to be awarded, and journalists are preparing to announce the long‑awaited winner while feeling the tension rise among global football supporters.
Among the contenders, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane are regularly mentioned as favorites. Yet, a few hours before the unveiling, no name stands out clearly. Analysts struggle to identify a clear leader.
As in 2024, a surprise cannot be ruled out. The previous edition already showed that the verdict could swing at the last minute. Observers therefore remain on the edge.
Rodri beats Vinicius Junior
Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, recounted the behind‑the‑scenes of Rodri's unexpected triumph over Vinicius Junior. “I obviously had the winner’s name, which was Rodri and not Vinicius,” he told Brut. He added that everyone, including those inside Madrid, was convinced the Brazilian would win.
Garcia notes that the difference was tiny, “two or three votes apart, let’s say.” This narrow margin explains why the suspense lasted until the very last moment. The Spanish midfielder thus secured the prestigious award.
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The Real Madrid tries to obtain the result
At 10 a.m., the head of France Football receives an unexpected call from Real Madrid, which is trying to uncover the secret of the result. “At first, I was a bit surprised and I thought, ‘He preaches the false to know the true’,” Garcia recounts. He sensed that the club perhaps wanted to push him to confirm or distort the information.
Despite repeated solicitations, Vincent Garcia refuses to confirm or deny the winner. The calls keep coming, but he remains silent. “More sound, more image,” he sums up the exchanges with the Casa Blanca.
On social media, several accounts are already mentioning Rodri's triumph before the official announcement. “I know there is someone in the organization who has talked a lot,” Garcia confides, adding that the message could have reached Real’s ears. He wonders whether a former editor-in-chief, now at odds with the group, is behind the leak.
Since the decision not to inform either the winner or the laureate, Garcia admits that the days leading up to the ceremony are “quite complicated.” He is careful to keep the secret until the day the trophy is presented, maintaining the full suspense for the 70th edition of the men’s Ballon d’Or.