Ballon d’Or 2026: Were winners accidentally revealed before ceremony?

The organisers of the 2026 Ballon d’Or have sparked controversy after accidentally publishing articles naming potential winners before Monday’s awards ceremony in London.

According to The Athletic, France Football mistakenly published separate winner articles for Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe on the official Ballon d’Or website before deleting them.

The incident raised questions about whether the results had been prematurely revealed ahead of the ceremony at the London Palladium.

Kane, Yamal and Mbappe are among the leading contenders for the prestigious individual award, alongside Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembele.

Meanwhile, the organisers have confirmed the top 10 nominees, with Jude Bellingham finishing 11th, Achraf Hakimi 13th and Declan Rice 15th.

The ceremony will also recognise the world’s best female footballer, with Alexia Putellas among the leading contenders.

The publication error has fuelled speculation, although no official men’s winner had been confirmed at the time of reporting.