Ballon d’Or secrecy tightens as contenders make their case and fake rankings circulate

The identity of the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will remain hidden until Monday night’s ceremony at the London Palladium, despite a growing campaign around the leading contenders and a series of fabricated leaks on social media.

Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembele are among the leading candidates for the prestigious award, which will be presented in London for the first time rather than at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris.

Only about five people are currently believed to know the result.

Pascal Ferre, the former head of the Ballon d’Or, told RMC that winners have not been informed of their result before the ceremony since 2024.

“Since 2024, the winners have no longer been told about their fate before the ceremony, and all of them are treated equally,” he said. “When they arrive at the venue in London, none of them will be able to raise their arms before the others because they do not know.

“We changed the rules after the era of Messi and Ronaldo. To preserve secrecy more easily, it was decided that the winner’s name would be kept hidden until the last moment.”

Asked how the organisers protect the winner’s identity, Ferre added: “I believe a good secret is one shared with as few people as possible. There are small tricks and simple plans.

“My trick was to leave fake rankings lying around in the editorial office of France Football to feed social media, and that made me happy. Now, there cannot be more than five people who know the winner’s name.”

Mbappe among those making their case

In recent months, Mbappe has repeatedly highlighted his credentials in media interviews and at Real Madrid news conferences.

“When you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, you are inevitably associated with these awards,” the France forward said before Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Inter Milan.

“When people see me in the street, they talk about me. It is a very prestigious distinction for any player. I made history this summer in the most important competition. But there is still a long way to go.

“Everyone is free to think about who the best player in the world is. It is very personal.”

Ferre said the decision would ultimately be made by journalists, not public opinion.

“Everyone has an opinion. Some will agree and others will disagree. It is a discussion, and not everyone has to think like me,” he said. “This year may be favourable for the Ballon d’Or, but it is awarded by journalists, and they will decide.”

He added that it remained unclear whether Mbappe’s statements would help his prospects.

“Who do we need to convince? Not the supporters or football fans, but the members of the jury. I am not sure they are especially receptive to this kind of campaign,” Ferre said.

Kane is also among the contenders after making a significant contribution to Bayern Munich and England. He has scored 73 goals this season, including 61 for the German club, while his 14 goals in 13 Champions League appearances have also strengthened his case.

Yamal won the 2025-26 La Liga player of the season award after scoring 16 goals and helped Spain win the World Cup last summer.

False rankings spread online

Interest in the result has intensified on social media, particularly on X, where fabricated claims have circulated widely.

Among them are fake screenshots purporting to show WhatsApp conversations with Vincent Garcia, the France Football editor, allegedly revealing the 2026 rankings in advance. Images of tables showing the same supposed rankings have also appeared, with Mbappe leading one version and Kane topping another.

“This is impossible,” a source told the network. “But it is part of the usual hype.”