Ballon d’Or 2026: The favorite stands out, Yamal and Mbappé behind

Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane has emerged as the leading favorite among bookmakers to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, according to reports. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on Monday, October 26, in London, where the successor to reigning holder Ousmane Dembélé will be revealed. Kane established his frontrunner status after an exceptional 2025-2026 campaign, finishing as Europe's top scorer with 61 goals in 51 games for Bayern Munich.

Behind Kane, Lamine Yamal sits in second place in betting projections, followed closely by Kylian Mbappé in third. Mbappé has been actively campaigning in media outlets following a season without a collective trophy. Other contenders listed in the bookmaker rankings include Rodri, Lionel Messi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, and Fabian Ruiz.