Harry Kane secured the Ballon d’Or with 1,055 points, edging out Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé by a margin of 28 points, according to final voting results released by France Football. The announcement, which confirmed the point totals for the top contenders, places the Bayern Munich striker at the summit of the 2024 rankings following a campaign where he recorded 73 goals across club and international competition.
The 28-point margin separating Kane and Mbappé
The definitive vote count revealed the narrowest of gaps at the top of the leaderboard. Kylian Mbappé finished in second place with 1,027 points, trailing the winner by fewer than three dozen points. The voting process involved a panel of 100 specialized journalists, each tasked with ranking their top 10 players. Under the established scoring system, the first-place selection earns 15 points, with descending values awarded to the remaining nine positions down to a single point for tenth place.
Top performers and point distributions
Beyond the primary contest, the voting reflected a broad consensus on the season’s standout talents. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona claimed third place with 881 points, maintaining his standing among the sport’s elite. Rodri followed in fourth position with 726 points, while Lionel Messi, representing Inter Miami, rounded out the top five with 612 points.
Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ⬇️@HKane@FCBayern@England#ballondor pic.twitter.com/gBPwTpQCHf
The remainder of the top ten highlighted a mix of European club contributors:
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain): 541 points
- Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain): 418 points
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 378 points
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich): 296 points
- Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain): 201 points
Context behind the final tallies
The voting outcome follows a season defined by high-volume production for the top finishers. Harry Kane’s 73-goal haul established the baseline for his victory, while Kylian Mbappé’s transition to Real Madrid marked a significant chapter in his career. Other players, such as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, earned points for their contributions during Paris Saint-Germain’s European campaign, and Erling Haaland continued to feature prominently in the rankings due to his output with Manchester City.
Frequently asked questions about the voting
How many journalists participate in the Ballon d’Or vote?
The voting panel consists of 100 specialized journalists who evaluate the candidates based on their performance throughout the season.
How are points allocated per ballot?
Each voter selects their top 10 players. The point structure awards 15 points for a first-place vote, followed by 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point for the subsequent positions.
What was the primary criterion for the top-ranked players?
The rankings reflect a combination of club and international performance, with Harry Kane’s 73 goals cited as a primary factor in his 1,055-point total.
The final tally released by France Football confirms the results announced in London last Monday, marking the conclusion of the current award cycle.
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