The winner of the 2026 Ballon d'Or will be announced in London on Monday, marking the first time the gala has been held in Britain. Several players are in contention for the award, including Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi, with Yamal currently favored to win. According to predictions, Yamal has a 23 percent probability of winning, followed closely by Kane with a 21 percent chance, and Messi with an 18 percent chance.

The award ceremony will take place at the London Palladium, where one of these top players will be crowned the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner. The announcement is highly anticipated, with many speculating about who will claim the showpiece award.

The contenders have had impressive seasons, with Yamal winning La Liga with Barcelona and Kane scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England. The outcome of the award is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on Monday in London.

Source record

Evidence lens

2 cited sources are linked to this briefing.

BBCbbc-topSource update:
ALJAZEERAaljazeera-worldSource update:
Automated checks require two distinct source groups; this does not verify every claim.Full coverage →How NOW MATTERS verifies stories →Report a factual issue →Photo rights record →