The behind-the-scenes of a tight gala delayed by traffic

Harry Kane won the Ballon d'Or 2026, narrowly defeating Kylian Mbappé. The announcement was preceded by a premature leak of the top three candidates. Kane's victory margin was one of the smallest in history, with Vincent Garcia noting it was less than Rodri's win over Vinícius in 2024. Lamine Yamal, who finished third, received the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year. His family expressed disappointment over the results, with his uncle claiming Yamal is the true best player. Joan Laporta, president of Barcelona, remained diplomatic, suggesting Yamal will eventually win the Ballon d'Or. The ceremony faced delays due to traffic in London, marking a departure from its usual Paris venue.