Mbappé led Kane for much of Ballon d’Or vote
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on La Nouvelle Tribune
Kylian Mbappé was in first place for much of the 2026 Ballon d’Or vote before Harry Kane overtook him, France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia explained. The English forward ultimately won the trophy ahead of the Frenchman, according to his comments to La Chaîne L’Équipe.
Kylian Mbappé held first place in the 2026 Ballon d’Or vote for much of the voting period before being overtaken by Harry Kane, according to Vincent Garcia, editor-in-chief of France Football, as cited by La Chaîne L’Équipe. The French Real Madrid forward ultimately finished second behind the English Bayern Munich player, with Lamine Yamal in third place.
Vincent Garcia explained that Kane gradually caught up with Mbappé during the voting month and that the final gap had narrowed to “very, very few points”. The France Football official also said he had voted for a player who did not win the trophy, without revealing his choice before the publication of the magazine scheduled for Saturday.
For Mbappé, this second place is the best result of his career in the Ballon d’Or. Harry Kane won the trophy at the ceremony held in London on Monday evening.
