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Ballon d'Or 2026: Mbappé's media tour backfires as bookmakers slash his odds

Despite a series of interviews to defend his candidacy, Kylian Mbappé has seen his odds drop 17% with English bookmakers. Harry Kane, meanwhile, has surged 43% and emerged as the favourite.

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Ballon d'Or 2026: Mbappé's media tour backfires as bookmakers slash his odds
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Kylian Mbappé’s media campaign is not producing the desired effect: while the Real Madrid striker has multiplied public appearances to defend his Ballon d’Or 2026 candidacy, his odds have fallen 17% with English bookmakers, leaving him in third place.

For several days, the France captain has spoken to numerous international media outlets, highlighting his record and claiming he deserves the trophy this year, even at the risk of taking swipes at his rivals. An activism that contrasts with Harry Kane’s discretion, and which fails to convince betting market analysts.

It is precisely the Bayern Munich striker who is profiting most from this period. Much quieter, the 33-year-old Englishman has seen his odds surge 43% and now leads the predictions. His credentials are solid: Europe’s top scorer with 61 club goals (73 including international matches), he won the Bundesliga and scored 6 goals at the World Cup.

In second place, Lamine Yamal shares Mbappé’s fate. The 19-year-old Catalan prodigy has also multiplied public statements to promote his candidacy, without success in the betting markets: his odds have fallen 28%, the steepest drop among the contenders for the title.

The competition schedule is tightening. Votes from the 100 journalists representing the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings will close on 28 September. The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on 26 October in London. With less than three months until the deadline, the race remains more open than ever.

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