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Ballon d'Or 2026: Ceremony Moves to London for 70th Anniversary
Confirmed
In Short: The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place at the London Palladium on Monday, marking the 70th anniversary of the prestigious award.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place at the London Palladium on Monday, marking the 70th anniversary of the prestigious award. The event will honor Sir Stanley Matthews, the first Ballon d'Or winner in 1956.
The ceremony will feature awards for both men and women, with no distinctions between genders. The voting system for the Ballon d'Or is based on individual performances, team achievements, and career contributions. A panel of 100 sports journalists for the men's award and 50 for the women's select their top 10 picks, with each spot in the top 10 earning specific points.
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, and Lionel Messi are among the nominees for the men's Ballon d'Or. The Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player, has a different voting system with a jury made up of former Ballon d'Or winners.
Spain's Lamine Yamal, who scored the opening goal in the World Cup final against Argentina, is a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or. He put Spain ahead inside two minutes after an error by Marc Guehi, leading to a 1-0 victory.
Harry Kane has emerged as the favorite to win the Ballon d'Or, with his odds tumbling from +600 to +200 after Spain's victory over Argentina. Punters have targeted Kane, Messi, and Yamal, who have split 81% of the day's bets.
Lamine Yamal's performance in the World Cup final has reshaped the betting market for the Ballon d'Or. He scored the opening goal and helped Spain secure their second men's World Cup championship.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed his support for Yamal, saying, “It’s only fair that he wins it. He’s a very sincere, very straightforward and very young lad.”
Kane's 2025-26 season was his best, scoring an incredible 36 goals and finishing nine clear of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in the continental race. He earned a second European Golden Shoe and is a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or.
Luis Diaz, also on the shortlist, said, “He deserves to win it, 100 percent, without a doubt.” Kane's goal-scoring exploits are the closest we have experienced to that in recent years.
Yamal has also made a strong case for the Ballon d'Or, placing himself and Kylian Mbappé above other stars such as Messi, Harry Kane, Raphinha, and Olise.
The ceremony will be a celebration of the world's top football talent, with multiple awards presented to both men and women.
The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will be a significant event, honoring the achievements of the world's best footballers and celebrating the legacy of Sir Stanley Matthews.
What this adds
The ceremony will be held at the London Palladium to honor Sir Stanley Matthews, the first Ballon d'Or winner in 1956.
The voting system for the Ballon d'Or is based on individual performances, team achievements, and career contributions.
The Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player, has a different voting system with a jury made up of former Ballon d'Or winners.
What's confirmed
- Spain recorded their 41st consecutive unbeaten game thanks to an exquisite finish from Lamine Yamal before goals from Rodri and Mikel Merino in Oviedo.
What's still developing
- Torres finally created the breakthrough 16 minutes into extra time, adding another major trophy to Spain’s European Championship victory from two years earlier.
- Messi attracted 28% of the Ballon d’Or wagers placed during the day, the highest individual share listed by Oddschecker.
- Ferran Torres scored the final’s lone goal in the 106th minute after Argentina entered extra time with 10 men, The Guardian reports.
- The Manchester City centre-back turned on the ball 25 yards from goal and had his pocket picked by Lamine Yamal, who cooly finished past Trafford with two minutes on the clock.
- James Trafford: Showed early on his ability to play with the ball at his feet but conceded after just two minutes when Guehi gifted the ball to Lamine Yamal.
- Video Scotland rue missed chances in Slovenia draw The MMA fighter helping Brighton - and filling stadiums How PSG's Ballon d'Or duo are pushing each other on The compromises and power struggles that shaped Fury-Joshua Drinking at football matches - would fans welcome it?
- “I’ve never liked to talk about myself too much,” Kane said in an interview last month.
- FC Bayern’s star striker should bring home the Ballon d’Or.
- Argue about Lamine Yamal, debate the best attackers in Europe, or pretend there is some other striker who does everything Harry Kane does.
- Lamine Yamal gave the world champions a second-minute lead after an awful mistake by England center back Marc Guéhi, and Spain missed several chances to extend their advantage in a slick opening spell as the Three Lions labored.