Barcelona believe Harry Kane is the leading contender to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite Lamine Yamal being among the finalists for football’s most prestigious individual award.
According to Cadena SER, there is a feeling within Barcelona that Bayern Munich striker Kane is best placed to claim the prize. However, the final decision has not yet been confirmed and the identity of the winner remains unknown until the announcement is made.
The club’s internal assessment does not mean Yamal’s chances have formally disappeared. It reflects only the impressions circulating at Barcelona and is not confirmation of the result of the voting.
The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, 26 October 2026, at the London Palladium in the British capital. It is the first time the event has been held in London and coincides with the 70th anniversary of the award, which was launched in 1956.
Three leading contenders
The men’s award has centred on three prominent candidates: Barcelona forward Yamal, Bayern Munich striker Kane and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.
Kane enters the contest after a prolific campaign and with domestic honours won with Bayern. Yamal’s case is based on his influence for Barcelona and Spain, while Mbappe has impressive scoring figures despite ending his season with Real Madrid without a trophy.
The award carries particular significance for Yamal after he finished runner-up in the previous edition. He was beaten by France international Ousmane Dembele, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Yamal is also bidding to become the youngest player ever to win the Ballon d’Or. Kane, meanwhile, is aiming to become the first Englishman to receive the award since Michael Owen in 2001.
The ceremony will be staged as attention remains focused on whether Yamal can overturn the expectations emerging from inside Barcelona, or whether Kane’s goals and honours with Bayern will be enough to secure the prize. No official result has been announced before the event.
The schedule around the ceremony also lists Barcelona in La Liga on 31 October 2026, with Deportivo Alaves and Racing Santander included in the same fixture information. Real Madrid is listed for a La Liga fixture on 01 November 2026.
