Ballon d'Or 2026: Mbappé Rising Outsider Ahead of London Ceremony

On the eve of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, held in London, Kylian Mbappé is the subject of insistent rumors suggesting he will win the prestigious individual award, ahead of the main favorites Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane.

Streamer Zack Nani fueled speculation on Sunday: “I spoke with people who are fairly well-informed. And they’re starting to hear that this is the direction we’re heading.” The confirmed presence of the France captain at the London Palladium remains a relative indicator, however, as virtually all contenders are also expected to attend the evening.

Spaniard Lamine Yamal and Englishman Harry Kane remain the two names most cited to succeed Ousmane Dembélé on the honor roll. Mbappé, meanwhile, is playing the role of serious outsider, but a victory for the Real Madrid striker would not fail to spark controversy: during the past season, the Frenchman won no major trophies.

Another point of friction concerns the media campaign conducted by Mbappé himself, judged particularly aggressive by some observers. Pascal Ferré, former editor-in-chief of France Football, summed up the stakes soberly on RMC: “For me, a Ballon d’Or is not something you claim, it’s something you earn. We’ll see in 24 hours whether he was right to go down that road or not.”

Mbappé will also play in the Clasico against FC Barcelona this evening, just hours before the ceremony. Should he lift the trophy, he would become the seventh French player to have his name inscribed on the Ballon d’Or honor roll.