Ballon d’Or 2026: Lamine Yamal Falls Behind As Mbappe Leads Race

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is leading the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, while Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal has surprisingly fallen outside the top three ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.

Mbappe emerged as the favourite in a poll published by French sports newspaper L’Équipe and reported by beIN Sports. The results indicate strong support for the French forward following another impressive season at the highest level of football.

Although the poll will not determine the official winner, it offers an indication of how some contenders are currently viewed ahead of the ceremony. Mbappe’s position suggests that he has considerable backing in the ongoing debate over this year’s award.

One of the biggest surprises in the latest poll is Yamal’s absence from the top three. The Barcelona youngster has attracted considerable attention in recent months and has widely been regarded as one of the leading contenders for the prestigious individual honour.

However, Yamal’s position in the survey does not determine his chances of winning the official award. The final outcome will be decided through the Ballon d’Or’s official voting process rather than the newspaper’s poll.

Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia occupies second place, while England captain Harry Kane is third behind Mbappe. Their positions highlight the range of players receiving support as the competition for the award continues.

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With the October 26 ceremony approaching, Mbappe’s lead and Yamal’s absence from the top three have added fresh talking points to the Ballon d’Or debate. The official announcement in London will reveal who ultimately claims the 2026 award.