The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place on Monday evening at the London Palladium Theatre, where France Football will crown the best footballer of the 2025/2026 season. With the event moving to the English capital to honor the first recipient, Stanley Matthews, the field features several contenders competing in what shapes up to be a tight vote.
Who are the main contenders for the Ballon d’Or?
France Football organizes the 70th edition of the ceremony in London, hosted by Thierry Henry and journalist Kate Scott, who will announce the successor to Ousmane Dembélé. The race remains wide open, with multiple players staking strong claims through club and international campaigns.
What are Kylian Mbappé’s arguments and drawbacks?
Kylian Mbappé experienced a paradoxical 2025/2026 campaign with Real Madrid and the French national team. Domestically and in Europe, he won no collective titles, exiting the Champions League in the quarterfinals against Bayern Munich and finishing as Spanish league runners-up behind FC Barcelona, while finishing fourth at the World Cup with Les Bleus.
Individually, however, the French forward posted staggering numbers. He claimed the Pichichi trophy as La Liga’s top scorer with 25 goals, led the Champions League with 15 strikes, and topped the World Cup scoring charts with 10 goals—bringing his career World Cup total to a record 22 goals. Despite these individual accolades, his lack of team silverware with Real Madrid or France remains a significant hurdle.
Can Harry Kane end Bayern Munich’s long wait?
Harry Kane enters the ceremony on home soil aiming to become the first Bayern Munich player to win the Ballon d’Or in 45 years, following Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981. Observers view this as a prime opportunity after a prolific season that saw him net 73 goals across all competitions for club and country—second only to Lionel Messi’s 82-goal record from the 2011–2012 campaign.
The reigning European Golden Shoe winner captured the Bundesliga, German Cup, and German Supercup with Bayern. While his club missed out on a Champions League final after falling to Paris Saint-Germain, and England finished third at the World Cup by defeating France, his lack of a major international or European continental trophy could weigh against his candidacy.
How does Lamine Yamal’s young season stack up?
At just 19 years old, Lamine Yamal enters the debate with a formidable collection of trophies. The FC Barcelona winger won the World Cup with Spain alongside the La Liga title and the Spanish Supercopa. He contributed 25 goals and 20 assists across all competitions.
Despite his dribbling ability and impact on the pitch, his supporters must weigh his quarterfinal Champions League exit against Atlético de Madrid and a quiet World Cup output that yielded just one goal across eight matches.
What records did Michael Olise and other nominees break?
Michael Olise established a single-season record with 34 assists across all competitions for Bayern Munich, helping his club secure a domestic treble. He also guided France to the World Cup semifinals, setting a tournament record with seven assists—surpassing Pelé’s previous benchmark—while adding 27 goals.
Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning winner, returns to the conversation after lifting the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, scoring vital goals in the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final on his way to 20 goals and 10 assists in 40 matches. His club teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia earned recognition as the Champions League’s best player with 10 goals and six assists in 16 matches, though Georgia missed out on World Cup qualification.
Meanwhile, Fabián Ruiz collected a World Cup medal with Spain alongside the Champions League, Ligue 1, and UEFA Super Cup with PSG. In England, Declan Rice drove Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, anchoring the London club’s midfield.
When and where does the ceremony take place?
The 70th Ballon d’Or gala begins on Monday evening at the London Palladium Theatre in the United Kingdom.
