Ballon d’Or 2026: Who will win football’s biggest individual award? Check top contenders

Ballon d’Or 2026: The Ballon d’Or 2026 winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on Monday (October 26). Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among top contenders for football’s top individual award.

The 70th edition of the ceremony will be held at the London Palladium. It will be the first time the event takes place in Britain. The award recognises individual performances during the 2025-26 season. The eligibility period runs from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026.

England Captain Kane enters the ceremony after an outstanding season with Bayern Munich. He scored 73 goals last season, won the Bundesliga and finished as the league's top scorer for the third consecutive year. He also claimed a second European Golden Shoe that made him a top contender for the men's award.

Barcelona forward Yamal is another strong candidate after a productive season for club and country. The Spain international is competing with established stars for an award that recognises individual performances, team achievements and a player's conduct on and off the pitch.

Real Madrid forward Mbappé is also among the top names in contention. His performances in major matches and individual quality have made him a strong contender along with Kane and Yamal. The final result will be decided by the international voting panel.

Who won the Ballon d’Or in 2025?

France and Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé won the men's Ballon d’Or in 2025. Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmatí claimed the women's award. The 2026 winners will succeed them after the results are announced at the London ceremony.

How is Ballon d’Or winner decided?

The award is organised by France Football in partnership with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). An international jury of specialist journalists votes on a shortlist of 30 players in the men's category and 30 in the women's category.

Each juror ranks 10 players in order of merit. The voting takes into account individual performances, contributions to the team, achievements and sportsmanship. The player with the highest overall score wins the award.

Why is 2026 ceremony being held in London?

London is hosting the ceremony for the first time as the award marks its 70th anniversary. Organisers chose the British capital to pay tribute to Stanley Matthews, the English footballer who won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 8 pm GMT on October 26. For viewers in India, the main event begins at 1:30 am IST on October 27. The official announcement will confirm who succeeds Dembélé as the men's Ballon d’Or winner and who claims the women's prize.