The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is entering its home stretch. Next Monday, October 26 in London, Ousmane Dembélé’s successor will be officially known. With just over a month to go before the ceremony, the suspense remains over the identity of the next winner. Several contenders are already taking center stage and trying to defend their chances as the verdict approaches.
But according to the trends observed by RMC Sportone name currently stands out among English bookmakers: Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich striker would still be considered the main contender, with odds continuing to trend favorably on several online betting platforms.
The England captain, however, remains particularly discreet when it comes to this individual distinction. On the field, on the other hand, his statistics largely speak for him. During the 2025-2026 season, Kane piled up the goals with Bayern Munich, finishing as Europe’s top scorer with 61 goals in 51 games. Adding his performances with the Three Lions, his total even climbs to 73 goals.
Mbappé in the Top 3
Behind the Bavarian striker, Lamine Yamal occupies second place in the bookmakers’ projections, but his odds have declined. Kylian Mbappé completes the podium. The Frenchman has been much more present in the media in recent weeks. The captain of the Blues notably increased the number of interviews, from L’Équipe to CNN via AS and RFI, to discuss his candidacy for the Ballon d’Or after a season without a collective trophy.
Further down this hierarchy established by the bookmakers include Rodri, Lionel Messi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembélé, title holder, as well as Fabian Ruiz. A little over a month before the ceremony, however, their odds place them behind the main contenders. The verdict will not be delivered until October 26. Until then, bookmaker trends may still evolve over the course of performances and the final weeks leading up to the ceremony.
