The 2026 Ballon d’Or could be one of the closest contests in the award’s history, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane among the leading candidates.
Reports suggest voters have found it difficult to separate the nominees, many of whom have built strong cases through their performances for both club and country. The uncertainty has raised the possibility of two or more players finishing level on points.
Under France Football’s regulations, a tie for first place is not decided by a random draw. Instead, the candidates’ voting records are compared, beginning with the number of first-place votes each player has received.
If two or more players remain level after that comparison, the number of second-place votes is taken into account. Should the deadlock continue, third-place votes are considered, followed by votes in subsequent positions until a winner can be identified.
The procedure is set out in Articles 8 and 9 of the official regulations governing the award.
Article 8 states that a tie should be resolved by comparing the candidates’ rankings in the voting. The player with the greater number of first-place votes therefore has the advantage. If that does not settle the contest, the comparison moves down through the remaining voting positions.
The same article also covers unusual circumstances, including a discrepancy or extraordinary situation during the counting process. In such cases, the matter is to be resolved by the official designated by the organisation.
Article 9 deals with disputes connected to the voting. It states that any disagreement arising from the process will be settled by the editor-in-chief of France Football, acting in the role of organiser.
That means France Football’s leadership would have the final say if the voting remained tied after the ranking process, or if a dispute affected the result.
Yamal, Mbappe and Kane have all enjoyed campaigns that have strengthened their claims to the prize. Their achievements at club and international level have contributed to the debate over which player should receive the honour.
The 2026 ceremony will also mark a change of venue. For the first time since 2019, the Ballon d’Or event will be staged outside Paris, with London, England, set to host the ceremony.
The move is being made in honour of Stanley Matthews, the inaugural winner of the award.
The winners are expected to be announced on October 26. France Football has indicated that it plans to keep the identity of the winner confidential until the ceremony, when the result will be revealed.