Kylian Mbappe's Ballon d'Or campaign is officially over

Kylian Mbappe’s campaign for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is over after the voting process officially closed. The France captain can no longer influence the contest through public lobbying, with the final decision now left to the ballots already submitted.

Voting ended on Monday, 29 September, after the journalists selected by France Football completed their choices. The votes will be counted shortly before the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in less than a month. The result remains difficult to call after a season in which no nominee established a clear lead.

Mbappe and Lamine Yamal were among the candidates most active in making their cases. That campaign appears to have damaged Mbappe’s relationship with Ousmane Dembele, despite their long friendship, after remarks from the France captain reportedly upset the 2025 Ballon d’Or winner. Mbappe must now wait alongside Dembele and the other nominees for the verdict.

The ceremony will be held in London rather than Paris. The move marks the award’s 70th anniversary and pays tribute to Stanley Matthews, the first winner in 1956. England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is also regarded as a serious contender, but he too will have to wait for the outcome.