Ballon d’Or 2026 winner decided before October ceremony

The Ballon d’Or 2026 winner has been decided, although the identity of the recipient will remain undisclosed until the award ceremony. The result ends an unusually open contest involving several leading figures from the World Cup and European football.

Voting closed on Monday, September 28, after 100 journalists representing the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations submitted their top-10 selections. No further changes are possible. The winner will succeed Ousmane Dembélé, whose second consecutive triumph was never guaranteed after a less consistent season. Paris Saint-Germain teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also entered the discussion but missed the World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé strengthened his case by finishing as the World Cup’s leading scorer, though his limited collection of team trophies counted against him. Lionel Messi reached the final with Argentina, but his lack of regular weekly competition in MLS weakened his position. Spain’s candidates brought major tournament achievements: Rodri was named the World Cup’s best player, while Lamine Yamal won the competition. Harry Kane supplied the strongest club scoring record, with 73 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich.

The verdict will be announced on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre. The ceremony is being held in London to mark 70 years since Sir Stanley Matthews became the first Ballon d’Or winner.