Ballon d'Or organizers address rumors of winner leaks

Organizers of the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony have issued a clarification following social media rumors regarding potential leaks of the 2026 winner. Several URLs circulated online featuring prepared articles for nominees including Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal, leading to speculation about the final podium.

Organizers stated that these articles were prepared in advance for all nominees in the event of a victory and were uploaded inadvertently. They emphasized that the actual results remain unknown to the public.

Pascal Ferré, former director of France Football, addressed the rumors by noting that the winner's identity is strictly guarded. He explained that since 2024, winners are no longer notified of their results prior to the ceremony to prevent leaks, a policy change implemented following the eras of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ferré noted that currently, no more than five people are believed to know the winner's identity.