Ballon d’Or 2026: An error confirmed in the votes

Croatian Ballon d'Or jury member Zdravko Reic has admitted he made an error in ranking winner Harry Kane sixth in his official ballot. Kane claimed the 2026 Ballon d'Or at the London Palladium ahead of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal following a standout 73-goal season. Reic unexpectedly left all three top official finishers off his personal podium, selecting Rodri as his top choice followed by Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.

Speaking to Croatian outlet Vecernji list, Reic explained that his votes were heavily influenced by World Cup performances, which led to his selections of Rodri, Haaland, Messi, and fourth-placed Ferran Torres. While Reic stood by omitting Yamal from his top 10 due to limited tournament impact following an injury, he publicly acknowledged that placing Kane as low as sixth was a mistake.