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Kane is the favourite to become the first English winner of the Ballon d’Or since 2001
Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal battle for the Ballon d’Or as London hosts the star-studded ceremony tonight and prepares to award football’s most prestigious individual award.
England captain and Bayern Munich striker Kane is the favourite after an astonishing display of goalscoring last season, with 89 goals for club and country in just 81 appearances since the start of last season.
The 33-year-old is also bidding to become the first English winner of the award since Michael Owen in 2001, which would come in London and on the 70th anniversary of Sir Stanley Matthews winning the very first Ballon d’Or.
Teenager superstar Yamal has become Kane’s main rival, though, amid an increasingly competitive PR campaign aimed to swing the votes of the 100 journalists from the world’s top 100 football nations.
The Barcelona forward was part of Spain’s World Cup triumph, with the Golden Ball winner Rodri giving his team-mate his backing, while Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are likely to place high in tonight’s results.
Follow all the latest updates and results from the Ballon d’Or, below
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which takes place in London this evening.
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe or a real left-field choice? Who will leave with the iconic trophy?
Stick with us for all the build-up, best of action from the red carpet and then the ceremony itself.
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