Harry Kane leads The Athletic’s global poll for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ahead of the milestone 70th awards ceremony in London, where voters from top FIFA nations will crown the world’s best footballer following a dramatic year marked by international tournaments and club campaigns.
Voters from top FIFA nations will crown the world’s best footballer at the milestone 70th awards ceremony in London following a dramatic year marked by international tournaments and club campaigns. The Athletic surveyed 100 football figures from around the world—including players, managers, scouts, sporting directors, and club presidents—to establish the front-runners for the prestigious trophy.
Topping that international survey with 1,103 points is Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane. Voters backed the English forward after an extraordinary individual campaign, while also helping lead England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.
Journalists Rank Yamal and Mbappé as Top Contenders
The official winner will be decided by a panel of 100 journalists representing the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. The results from the survey reflect a packed year of international football, featuring breakout talents and established veterans alike.
| Player | Club | Survey Points |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich | 1103 |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona | 991 |
| Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid | 728 |
| Michael Olise | Bayern Munich | 646 |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami | 498 |
| Rodri | Barcelona | 481 |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Paris Saint-Germain | 401 |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City | 353 |
| Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain | 320 |
Spanish teenager Lamine Yamal secured second place in the survey with 991 points after winning both the domestic league title with Barcelona and the World Cup with the Spanish national team. French forward Kylian Mbappé rounded out the top three with 728 points, following a World Cup campaign where he became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Teammate Support and Expert Perspectives
Winger Serge Gnabri voiced clear backing for his teammate’s resume inside the Bayern Munich dressing room.
It would be fantastic if Kane won the Ballon d'Or. You always wish that for your teammate. He has had an incredible year. So for me, of course, he has done enough to win it. He is a key player for us and has shown his quality. I really hope he wins it. Serge
Former Bayern and Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski pointed to Yamal’s exceptional season for his age, while praising the impact of Bayern newcomer Michael Olise. Former Lokomotiv player Dmitry Sennikov highlighted Kane’s consistency across all major competitions, pointing out that the forward performed at a high level in league play, domestic cups, the Champions League, and the World Cup.
The 70th Ceremony in London
Harry Kane shared a lighthearted perspective on the wait leading up to the gala.
My wife would prefer to know the result now, and my family is very nervous! I understand that France Football wants to keep it quiet so all the stars can attend, but from my point of view, of course, I'd like to know the result without having to wait all evening… Harry
The historic 70th Ballon d’Or presentation ceremony—established by France Football—will take place on October 26 in London, England.