Ballon d’Or voting under scrutiny as French police examine winning betting pattern

French police are investigating suspected insider trading after a series of bets correctly predicted the precise finishing order of the top five players in the men’s Ballon d’Or.

The bets were placed through 12 accounts on the prediction market Polymarket, according to French law-enforcement sources who spoke to The Athletic on condition of anonymity.

The players named in the predicted order were Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi.

One source said the way those involved managed their positions in the market suggested the possibility that they had access to inside information.

French website Upside was the first to report the incident, which was later confirmed by The Athletic. The accounts allegedly involved bets totalling €250,000 (about $281,000), with profits of nearly €200,000 (about $225,000).

Sources familiar with the matter said France Football, the organisation behind the Ballon d’Or, was warned about possible irregularities in the betting before the result was confirmed.

After the winners were announced, France Football began its own investigation and contacted the Central Racing and Gaming Service (SCCJ), the department of the French police responsible for gambling matters.

‘Leaks and fraudulent betting’

A Ballon d’Or spokesperson told The Athletic: “The integrity of the Ballon d’Or is an absolute priority for France Football. We would like to reiterate that the winner is selected through an independent vote, and that we take these allegations concerning leaked results and the possibility of fraudulent betting very seriously. Investigations are under way to establish the facts and any potential responsibility.”

The spokesperson added: “We are in the process of filing a complaint with the relevant police authorities. As the investigations are ongoing, we cannot share any further details at this stage.”

Prediction markets including Polymarket and Kalshi have faced scrutiny because of the limited regulatory oversight applied to them, increasing concerns about the risk of insider trading.

Several US states have also taken legal action over the platforms’ involvement in sports betting. Those cases are expected to reach the Supreme Court of the United States.