Ballon d'Or 2026 chaos as winners leaked and investigation launched

Official Ballon d'Or website accidentally leaked three different winners—Kane, Yamal and Mbappé—hours before the London ceremony; investigation launched.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony in London descended into chaos when the official France Football website prematurely published three separate winner announcements ahead of the 8pm reveal. Stories crediting Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé with winning the award all appeared on the site before being removed. According to the Daily Mail, organisers are in "shock" and have launched an investigation into the leak. One article claimed Kane's "record-breaking welter of league and cup goals in 2025/26" secured the award, while another stated that 19-year-old Yamal had become the youngest winner in the award's history since 1956, surpassing Lionel Messi's previous record. The three players are the leading contenders for the prestigious individual award. Kane would become the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001 if he takes the prize.