Ballon d'Or 2026 voting concludes amid Monchi controversy

The voting process for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has officially concluded, meaning the winner is already determined even though the ceremony is not scheduled until October 26 in London. The results are mathematically fixed following the September 28 deadline, which evaluated performances from the 2025-2026 season, including the summer World Cup.

In the midst of this finalized voting period, Monchi, the sporting director of Espanyol, sparked controversy by publicly expressing his preference for Barcelona's Lamine Yamal over other candidates like Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane. Monchi later issued a public apology to Espanyol supporters, acknowledging that his comments regarding the Spanish player's nationality caused discomfort given his role at a club that is a traditional rival of Barcelona.