French police have reportedly opened an investigation into alleged insider trading connected to the results of the 2026 Men's Ballon d'Or. The probe follows a series of suspicious bets flagged to authorities after the ceremony, which was held in London last month and delayed after leaks revealed the podium hours before it began. Harry Kane ultimately beat Kylian Mbappé by just 28 points for the award.
According to The Athletic, 12 accounts on the prediction market Polymarket successfully predicted the exact order of the top five male finishers. The report noted that the behavior of those placing the bets, combined with the uncertainty surrounding this year's rankings, raised suspicions of insider trading.
French outlet Upside originally reported that bettors wagered €250,000 ($281,000) across the 12 accounts and collected nearly €200,000 ($225,000) in winnings for correctly forecasting the finishing order of Kane, Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi.
The Athletic reports that France Football first opened its own investigation into the bets before contacting the Central Racing and Gaming Service (SCCJ), the French unit that oversees the country's gambling, betting and horse racing industries.
How the Ballon d'Or Is Decided
The Ballon d'Or winner is chosen by 100 journalists representing FIFA's 100 top-ranked member nations. Each juror ranks their top 10 finishers from a 30-person shortlist, with points awarded according to each ranking, and the player with the most points wins the award.
Leaks ahead of the ceremony are not unprecedented. In 2024, Vinícius Júnior and Real Madrid boycotted the event after learning in advance that the Brazilian had lost the Ballon d'Or to Rodri.
A Ballon d'Or spokesperson addressed the latest allegations in a statement to The Athletic: "The integrity of the Ballon d'Or is an absolute priority for France Football. We would like to reiterate that the winner is selected through an independent vote."
The spokesperson added: "Be sure that we take these allegations of leaked results and potentially fraudulent betting very seriously. Investigations are underway to establish the facts, and determine any potential responsibility. We are in the process of filing a complaint with the relevant police authorities. As investigations are ongoing, no further details can be shared at this stage."
