Ballon d'Or 2026: Historic battle between Mbappé, Yamal, Kane and Kvaratskhelia

Football fans are looking forward to the British capital London on Monday, October 26, for the 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or ceremony for 2026, amid fierce competition that makes it difficult to predict the identity of the winner of the most prestigious individual award in football.

According to a report by French newspaper "Le Parisien", this year's race is among the most mysterious in the history of the award, with several top football stars in contention, led by Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, Spaniard Lamine Yamal, Englishman Harry Kane, and Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, alongside the possibility of a surprise name emerging to settle the contest.

The award is set to honor the best player in the world for the 2025-2026 season based on three key criteria ranked by importance: individual performance and the player's impact and ability to make a difference, followed by collective achievements and titles won, and finally talent and sportsmanship.

Debate continues over the identity of the winner since the FIFA World Cup final on July 19, when Spain claimed the title against Argentina with a score of 1-0. Various predictions and unconfirmed leaks about the results have circulated on social media. With voting closing three weeks ago, fans are eagerly awaiting the official announcement of the winner, with details of the voting to be revealed later.