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Mbappé favourite for 2026 Ballon d'Or, backed by Real Madrid campaign

According to Alberto Pereiro, a journalist at Onda Cero, Kylian Mbappé is drawing closer to the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Real Madrid has actively encouraged its striker's campaign, convinced he has never been closer to the trophy.

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Mbappé favourite for 2026 Ballon d'Or, backed by Real Madrid campaign
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Kylian Mbappé is the favourite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or according to Alberto Pereiro, a Spanish journalist at Onda Cero, who claims to see the France captain “drawing closer each day” to the trophy, whose ceremony will be held on 26 October at London Palladium in London.

According to Pereiro, Mbappé’s increased public appearances in recent weeks are not the result of a personal initiative. “Real Madrid has changed its attitude and pushed Mbappé’s candidacy. It’s because he is a serious candidate for the Ballon d’Or, and the club has understood that well,” he said. The journalist clarifies that the Madrid club explicitly asked its number 10 to lead this campaign, believing he “has never been such an obvious contender for this award before”.

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or remains wide open, however. Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are also among the serious contenders, with none commanding unanimous support. Votes from the 100 international journalists authorised to designate the winner closed on 28 September 2026, and the name of the winner remains secret until the 70th official ceremony.

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