Ballon d'Or 2026: Amaury Group Files Complaint Over Suspicious Betting on Final Rankings

The Amaury Group, owner of France Football, announced it has filed a complaint following the revelation of suspicious bets placed on the final rankings of the 2026 Ballon d’Or, won last Monday by Harry Kane ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi.

According to an investigation by the Upside website, twelve accounts allegedly wagered a total of $264,000 on the exact top 5 of the vote before any official announcement, allowing them to pocket nearly €179,000. Seven of these accounts had never placed a bet before, and six of them made their first wager only fifteen minutes after account creation — elements that strongly fuel suspicions of an internal leak.

In a statement sent to Le Parisien, the Amaury Group reaffirmed its commitment to the trophy’s integrity: “The integrity of the Ballon d’Or is an absolute priority. We wish to reiterate that the winner is awarded the Ballon d’Or following an independent vote. We take very seriously the allegations of result leaks and potentially fraudulent betting. Investigations are underway to verify the facts and determine any responsibilities.”

The investigation must now establish the identity of those who placed these bets and determine through which channel they could have accessed the final rankings before their official revelation. The central question remains: who, within the voting process or its organization, could have transmitted this information?

The affair comes at an already sensitive time for the Ballon d’Or, whose credibility has been tested in recent years by various controversies. A fraudulent betting scandal, if confirmed, would deal a serious blow to the image of football’s most prestigious individual award.