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Kane, Mbappé and Yamal lead 30-man shortlist as Ballon d'Or 2026 heads to London

The Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony takes place at the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October, with Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal the clear favourites. Alexia Putellas leads the women's award contenders as the event returns to England for the first time.

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Kane, Mbappé and Yamal lead 30-man shortlist as Ballon d'Or 2026 heads to London
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Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal headline a 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony set for the London Palladium on Monday, 26 October at 8:00pm GMT. It marks the first time the event has been held in England, a decision made in recognition of Sir Stanley Matthews, who claimed the inaugural award 70 years ago.

England captain Kane, France skipper Mbappé and Spain teenager Yamal are considered the frontrunners after each delivered standout seasons for club and country. All three would be lifting the award for the first time should they win.

On the women’s side, two-time Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Alexia Putellas is the leading contender as she bids to add a third title to her collection.

The ceremony begins at 8:00pm GMT (4:00pm ET / 7:00am AEDT on Tuesday), with coverage starting an hour earlier.

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