Harry Kane Emerges as Favorite as Ballon d'Or Ceremony Debuts in London
The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony is hosted in London for the first time, with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane emerging as the heavy favorite to win the prestigious award.
The 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place tonight at the London Palladium, marking the first time the prestigious football event is hosted in England. The red carpet opens at 8:00 PM Israel time, with the main event starting at 10:00 PM. Organizers chose London to honor the award's history and its very first winner, English footballer Sir Stanley Matthews, in 1956.
Bayern Munich striker and England captain Harry Kane enters the ceremony as the clear favorite according to bookmakers. The 33-year-old forward scored 73 goals during the 2025/26 season, securing his third consecutive Bundesliga top scorer title, the European Golden Shoe, and the German championship with Bayern, alongside leading England to a third-place finish at the World Cup.
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal lead the chasing pack as top contenders. The 30-man shortlist also features Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, and reigning Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele. The winners are decided by a panel of international journalists, with former star Thierry Henry and presenter Kate Scott hosting the evening.
