Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win over Kylian Mbappe decided by narrowest margin

Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or by a razor-thin margin over Kylian Mbappe, according to France Football editor-in-chief Vincent Garcia. The race was decided by only a few votes. Garcia said the gap was smaller than the 41-point difference in 2024, when Rodri beat Vinicius Junior. Mbappe led for most of the voting period, but Kane surged ahead in the final stages to claim victory. Garcia kept his own vote secret, noting he chose someone who did not win. Mbappe and third-place finisher Lamine Yamal had publicly promoted themselves, which former Ballon d'Or chief Pascal Ferre called a mistake.