Arabic version: يامال وكين يتصدران الجدل حول الكرة الذهبية

According to BBC News, the men’s Ballon d’Or winner will be announced in London on 26 October, with Spain winger Lamine Yamal and England captain Harry Kane the clear favourites with bookmakers.

Yamal won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain. Kane scored 73 goals for German champions Bayern Munich and England. Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner, and France forward Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid are also among the probable candidates.

BBC Sport’s experts were divided. Guillem Balague said Yamal had delivered individual performances, collective trophies and “that aura”. Rory Smith said the award would probably go to Yamal because it generally goes to someone who has won the World Cup, although he personally would choose Paris St-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Julien Laurens also selected Kvaratskhelia, citing his Champions League performances for PSG, including scoring in both semi-finals, the quarter-final and the last 16. Stephen Warnock said he thought Yamal would win but named Kvaratskhelia as his personal choice, while noting Georgia were not in the World Cup.

Former England players Alan Shearer, Danny Murphy and Andros Townsend backed Kane. Townsend said Kane scored 73 goals in 65 games, including 36 in the Bundesliga and 14 in the Champions League, while helping Bayern to a league and cup double. Kane also scored six goals at the 2026 World Cup as England reached the semi-finals.