Kane Leads Ballon d’Or Race as Yamal, Mbappé Chase Top Honour

England captain Harry Kane has emerged as a leading contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé also among the leading names ahead of Monday’s ceremony in London.

The 70th edition of the prestigious individual award, established by France Football, will be held in England for the first time. Kane’s reported form over the past season has strengthened hopes that he could become the first English winner in 25 years.

The Bayern Munich striker reportedly scored 73 goals in 65 appearances for club and country last season, helping the German side secure a domestic league and cup double while leading England to the World Cup semi-finals. Kane described winning the award as a major milestone in his career but admitted that the uncertainty surrounding the result had created tension for him and his family.

Barcelona forward Yamal, who finished second in last year’s voting, is another prominent contender. The 19-year-old enjoyed another high-profile campaign, although a hamstring injury reportedly disrupted the end of his club season. Despite the setback, Yamal remains confident about his chances of winning the award.

“For me, Mbappe and me, we’re the two best players in the world,” Yamal said last month, adding that he believed his achievements during the season made him deserving of the honour.

Mbappé is also in contention after an impressive individual scoring campaign. The French forward reportedly topped the scoring charts in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup, despite his teams failing to win those competitions. He highlighted his reported record of 10 goals at the World Cup as one of his most significant personal achievements.

The Ballon d’Or winner is selected through votes from football journalists representing the top 100 countries in FIFA’s world rankings. Each voter ranks 10 players from a 30-man shortlist, awarding points according to their positions. The player with the highest overall points total wins the award.

The women’s Ballon d’Or race is also attracting attention, with Barcelona’s former captain Alexia Putellas tipped to challenge for a third title. Putellas previously won the award in 2021 and 2022 and was part of Barcelona’s Champions League-winning side before moving to London City Lionesses. Poland international Ewa Pajor, who reportedly scored 11 goals during Barcelona’s Champions League campaign, is among her principal challengers.