The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be handed out on Monday night at the London Palladium, with Bayern Munich and England captain Harry Kane standing as the clear favourite to end a 25-year wait for an English winner. England national football team will be represented on the biggest stage in individual football, as Kane goes up against Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and a star-studded shortlist for the game's most prestigious prize.

Kane's bid to end England's long wait

Victory would see Kane become just the fifth English winner of the Ballon d'Or after Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton, Kevin Keegan and Owen, while he would also become the first Bayern player to claim it in 45 years. It would be a remarkable turnaround for a player who, as recently as last year's vote, finished well outside the podium places.

The 33-year-old won the Bundesliga as part of a domestic treble in Germany last season, and his numbers include 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich and England during the period from August 2025 until July 2026. That kind of output has made him the player team-mates and pundits alike have rallied behind in the final weeks before the vote.

Declan Rice's endorsement

Arsenal and England midfielder Declan Rice has been among the most vocal backers of his international captain. “For me, he's the clear winner,” Rice said of Kane in the build-up to the ceremony, pointing to the striker's extraordinary scoring record as the deciding factor.

Yamal and Mbappé keeping it close

Yamal had been seen as Kane's closest challenger for most of the season, but Mbappé has emerged in the final stretch as the player increasingly expected to push Kane hardest for the prize. The Real Madrid forward has made no secret of his ambitions for the award this year.

Further down the shortlist, Lionel Messi arrives with a record-extending 17th Ballon d'Or nomination, still in the running for a ninth career win at the age of 39. Last year's winner, Ousmane Dembélé, also features among the nominees looking to defend his title.

Why the ceremony has moved to London

The 2026 award ceremony has moved from Paris to London in honour of the first winner of the Ballon d'Or 70 years ago, Sir Stanley Matthews, giving the night an extra layer of significance for the England captain hoping to follow in his footsteps.

Bayern Munich have three of the frontrunners for the top prize in Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Díaz after their scintillating campaign, although Vincent Kompany watched his trio play a starring role in Bayern's win at Freiburg from a hospital bed rather than in the stands, a stark reminder of the dramatic build-up to the club's biggest individual night in decades. That episode was covered separately after Vincent Kompany was hospitalised following a collapse at training.

When it begins and the rest of the shortlist

Red carpet and start time

The ceremony begins at 21:00 GMT at the London Palladium, with stars including Kane, Yamal and Mbappé walking the red carpet from 19:30. As Ireland shares the same time zone as the United Kingdom at this point in the calendar, those times apply directly for viewers following along from home.

The full nominee list

Alongside the leading contenders, the men's shortlist includes a wide spread of talent from across Europe's top leagues. The nominees include Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi.

  • Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
  • Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
  • Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
  • Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
  • Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

The night will also crown the women's Ballon d'Or and the game's other individual prizes, closing out a season already shaped by England's progress at the World Cup and the fallout from Europe's domestic campaigns, including storylines followed closely by fans of the Bundesliga and the wider England national team setup.

Whatever happens on stage, Monday's ceremony caps a campaign in which Kane's club form has been a constant talking point, from his goal involvement at Bayern to his performances alongside England team-mates, including in recent fixtures such as the Nations League meeting with Spain at Wembley.