Real Madrid’s dressing room reportedly believes that Kylian Mbappé will win the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, hours before the winner of football’s most prestigious individual award is due to be announced at a ceremony in London.

The reports have fuelled speculation surrounding the French forward’s chances of claiming the award for the first time, following his impressive individual performances for Real Madrid and France during the period under consideration. Blueprint reports.

According to reports attributed to The Athletic, confidence within the Real Madrid dressing room has grown that Mbappé will emerge ahead of other leading contenders, including Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal.

The development comes amid reports that Real Madrid had sought advance information about the identity of the winner but were not given confirmation by the organisers.

However, the claims have not been independently established as evidence that Mbappé has won the award. The organisers have maintained secrecy around the result, and the official announcement remains the decisive confirmation.

The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26, marking the first time the British capital has hosted the event.

Real Madrid dressing room confident about Mbappé

Reports of confidence within Real Madrid have intensified following Mbappé’s latest performance against Barcelona in Sunday’s El Clásico.

The forward scored twice as Real Madrid secured a 2-1 victory over their arch-rivals, strengthening his position at the centre of discussions about the award shortly before the ceremony.

According to reports citing The Athletic, members of the club’s dressing room believe the French international has done enough to win the prize.

The reported confidence has also attracted attention because Mbappé is yet to win the Ballon d’Or, despite establishing himself among the leading forwards in world football.

His individual statistics over the assessment period have strengthened his case, although the award is not determined by goals alone. The voting process also considers team achievements and fair play.

The reported belief within Real Madrid, therefore, remains an expectation rather than confirmation of the outcome.

Organisers maintain secrecy over winner

The speculation has also revived questions about whether the Ballon d’Or winner can be known before the official announcement.

Reports circulating on Monday indicated that Real Madrid wanted to establish in advance whether Mbappé had won the men’s award but were not provided with the information.

The organisers’ approach is consistent with a change introduced in 2024 to prevent winners from being informed of their success before the ceremony.

Pascal Ferré, the former editor of France Football who oversaw the award between 2016 and 2023, recently explained that the winner’s identity is kept secret until the announcement.

Ferré said the arrangement was intended to ensure that nominees are treated equally and to prevent the result from being revealed prematurely.

He also indicated that only a very small number of people would know the winner’s identity before the ceremony.

The secrecy surrounding the award has not stopped speculation, with social media posts and reports from different outlets suggesting that particular candidates have an advantage.

However, such claims do not constitute official confirmation, and the identity of the winner must be established through the organisers’ announcement.

Mbappé faces competition from Kane and Yamal

Despite the reported optimism within Real Madrid, Mbappé faces competition from a number of high-profile nominees.

Harry Kane has emerged as a leading contender following his prolific season with Bayern Munich, while Yamal is also in contention after his performances for Barcelona and Spain.

Kane’s case is supported by his individual scoring record and Bayern Munich’s domestic achievements. Yamal, meanwhile, has combined influential performances for Barcelona with success on the international stage.

Mbappé’s individual output has also placed him among the principal candidates, but his lack of major team trophies during the 2025/26 club season has been cited in discussions about his chances.

The competition illustrates the difficulty of predicting the award, which is decided by an international jury of journalists rather than by supporters, players or club officials.

For the men’s award, journalists representing the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings select and rank 10 players from the official shortlist. Points are awarded according to each player’s position on the ballots, with the highest overall total determining the winner.

The voting criteria include individual performances, team achievements and fair play.

A first Ballon d’Or within reach?

For Mbappé, winning the award would represent a major individual milestone after years of being regarded as one of the leading players of his generation.

The France captain has enjoyed success at club and international levels and has consistently featured in discussions about the world’s best footballers.

His performances for Real Madrid have further strengthened his profile, while his contribution to France’s campaigns has kept him among the most prominent names in the game.

Nevertheless, the Ballon d’Or has frequently demonstrated that outstanding individual statistics do not automatically guarantee victory. The final result depends on the combined judgment of the voting journalists and their assessment of the nominees’ performances during the designated period.

The 2026 edition also features a competitive field, with Kane, Yamal and other shortlisted players presenting different arguments based on individual contributions and collective achievements.

Real Madrid’s reported confidence may add to the anticipation, but it does not settle the contest.

The award ceremony in London will ultimately determine whether Mbappé claims his first Ballon d’Or or another nominee takes the honour.

Until the organisers announce the result, reports suggesting that the French forward has already won should be treated as speculation rather than established fact.