​Ballon d’Or 2026 live updates: Winners, rankings, final awards results as Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe battle it out originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.JUMP TO:Ballon d’Or 2026 live updatesResults, rankings in fullStart time where you arePALLADIUM THEATRE, LONDON — After a whole year of goals, trophies, speculation, and celebration, the time to learn the winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or has finally arrived.Tonight, France Football will reveal the winner at the award gala, which has been won by four different players in each of the last four years.For the first time, the ceremony will be held outside France, as they honor the first winner of the Ballon d’Or, Stanley Matthews, by holding the 70th trophy presentation at the Palladium Theatre in London, England.Hosted by Kate Scott and Thierry Henry, this year’s ceremony will reveal the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner for the men’s and women’s side, as well as a host of other awards including best coach, best goalkeeper, best young player, and best club.MORE:List of 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or | Look back at the 2025 award ceremonyLive updates of Ballon d’Or trophy ceremony, commentary, videoAll times ET.3:50 p.m. — We have been informed inside the gala that the start of the Ballon d’Or ceremony has been delayed by 30 minutes, now set to start at 4:30 p.m. ET (8:30 p.m. local time). No reason or explanation for the delay has been given.#BallonDor https://t.co/v9Rgv1l5Ac— Dom Farrell (@DomFarrell1986) October 26, 20263:30 p.m. — The red carpet has concluded and the guests are beginning to take their seats at the Palladium Theatre in London! The event will be starting at the top of the hour!3:10 p.m. — One of the favorites to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, Kylian Mbappe, has arrived at the venue in London, setting local youngsters at the barrier scrambling for his autograph. Regardless of the remaining pending voting results, Mbappe has already become the first Frenchman to finish in the Top 10 of the Ballon d’Or standings ever. Can he win his first-ever Ballon d’Or trophy tonight?Inside the theatre, Mbappe’s arrival alongside Real Madrid teammate Marc Cucurella generated a bit of hubhub for attendees. Sorry Marc, that wasn’t for you. Still, you have Felix Magath’s vote, so it’s all good.3 p.m. — Michael Owen, the second-youngest player ever to win the Ballon d’Or, and the last English player to win the award, has arrived.Lamine Yamal has a few years left to break Ronaldo Nazario’s hold (who has also arrived at tonight’s function) on the youngest player to win the trophy, and he would smash the record if he wins today. Meanwhile, a Harry Kane win would snap the 25-year drought for English players in the award.The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner, Michael Owen, on the red carpet in London #ballondor https://t.co/DPrZjsPO2Z— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) October 26, 20262:30 p.m. — The family of Stanley Ma