Harry Kane’s historic Ballon d’Or triumph has been overshadowed by controversy after suspicious betting activity surrounding the award came to light.
The Bayern Munich striker became the first Englishman in 25 years to win football’s most prestigious individual prize. However, organisers have now launched an investigation after several unusual bets correctly predicted not only the winner but also the exact order of the top five players.
According to reports, France Football, which has organised the award since 1956, has been alerted to the betting activity, while the police have also been contacted.
Kane finished ahead of Kylian Mbappé, collecting 1,055 points, just 28 more than the French forward. Lamine Yamal came third, followed by Rodri in fourth place and Lionel Messi in fifth.
The England captain’s victory was supported by an outstanding season in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, won a second consecutive Bundesliga title and netted six times at the World Cup, where England finished third.
SUSPICIOUS BETS GENERATED ALMOST £149,000 IN PROFIT
An investigation by French outlet Upside reportedly identified 12 accounts on Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based betting platform, that collectively wagered more than $264,000 (approximately £197,000) on the Ballon d’Or outcome before the ceremony.
What raised suspicions was how accurately the accounts predicted the final top-five positions:
1. Harry Kane
2. Kylian Mbappé
3. Lamine Yamal
4. Rodri
5. Lionel Messi
All five predictions reportedly matched the official results, generating almost $200,000 (around £149,000) in profit.
The investigation also discovered that all 12 accounts were created between October 1 and October 20. Seven had never previously placed bets on other markets, while six made their first wagers within just 15 minutes of registering.
One account reportedly bought betting contracts predicting Kane’s victory before selling them at a higher price and subsequently placing additional bets on specific player positions.
FRANCE FOOTBALL AND POLICE STEP IN
Upside co-founder Raphaël Pautard revealed that his team traced one transaction to a French platform, which reportedly identified the individual connected to one of the accounts funding the bets.
The findings were subsequently forwarded to France Football, which confirmed that an investigation had been opened. Authorities have also been contacted as concerns grow over whether anyone had access to confidential information before the winner was officially announced.
The situation has brought renewed attention to the secrecy surrounding the Ballon d’Or voting process. Organisers had previously insisted that knowledge of the winner was restricted to a very small group of people.
This is not the first time the award’s confidentiality has come under scrutiny. In 2024, Rodri’s victory over Vinícius Júnior reportedly leaked before the ceremony, prompting Real Madrid to boycott the event.
The latest development could put even greater pressure on organisers to strengthen their security measures and protect the credibility of future Ballon d’Or ceremonies.
