Ballon d’Or 2026: first votes revealed!

Yamal left out of some rankings, Kane relegated to tenth, Cubarsí on a podium: the first reported ballots are fueling discussions after the ceremony.

Harry Kane’s crowning did not put an end to the debate. The winner on Monday, October 26, ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, the Bayern Munich striker does not consistently top the votes. Several ballots are already circulating in the press and on social media, ahead of their full publication in France Football, expected on Saturday, October 31.

Yamal absent from some Top 10s

Third in the final standings, the FC Barcelona winger has experienced very different fortunes depending on the reported ballots. Here are the choices and positions that stand out:

• Belarus: Messi first, Rodri second, Kane third; Yamal absent from the Top 10.
• Croatia: Rodri first, Haaland second, Messi third; Kane sixth, Cubarsí seventh, Vitinha eighth. Yamal absent from the Top 10.
• Colombia: Kane first, Rodri second, Mbappé third; Yamal fifth and Julián Quiñones tenth.
• Vietnam: Rodri first, Messi second, Kane third; Yamal fourth.
• Ecuador: Mbappé first, Kane second, Olise third, Dembélé fourth and Yamal fifth.
• Montenegro: Kane first, Kvaratskhelia second, Messi third and Yamal fourth.

Kvaratskhelia and Cubarsí rewarded by several jurors

The Georgian from Paris Saint-Germain appears on several podiums. Cubarsí also earns a third-place finish, while the Czech vote gives the winner a particularly low ranking:

• Czechia: Rodri first, Mbappé second, Messi third; Kane tenth.
• Italy: Mbappé first, Rodri second and Kvaratskhelia third.
• Kosovo: Kane first, Mbappé second and Kvaratskhelia third.
• Romania: Mbappé first, Kane second and Kvaratskhelia third.
• Switzerland: Yamal first, Kane second and Cubarsí third.

Why these gaps could carry significant weight

Each juror ranks ten players from among the thirty nominees. The scoring system awards, in succession, 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point. A tenth-place finish therefore earns fourteen fewer points than a first-place finish; being absent from the ballot earns nothing.

The criteria focus, in this order, on individual performances, team results, then class and fair play. Their interpretation explains some of the differences, although an unusual vote alone is not enough to establish an irregularity.

These differences are particularly significant in a very close vote between Kane and Mbappé. The full publication will make it possible to assess their actual impact.

Also read: Ronaldinho’s return is already causing a fever!

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.