Photo via BBC Sport

Kane prematurely announced as Ballon d'Or winner - but he wasn't only one

An accidental leak on the official digital home of the Ballon d'Or caused widespread confusion earlier this week when premature articles declaring Harry Kane as the 2026 victor were posted online hours ahead of the scheduled gala. The premature publication occurred well before the prestigious individual honor was set to be formally presented at a glamorous ceremony in the English capital, prompting speculation about whether the organizers had inadvertently compromised the final results.

Subsequent investigation of the portal showed that identical pre-prepared profiles had also been generated for several other top contenders, including Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Alexia Putellas, and Ewa Pajor.

Within less than half an hour of the initial discovery, digital staff pulled down the profiles for both Kane and Mbappe as questions swirled regarding whether the blunder was an accidental release or an intentional scramble to mitigate damage. If the English striker ultimately secures the accolade later tonight, he will break a drought lasting over two decades since a compatriot last claimed the trophy.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains regarding how the draft materials found their way onto the public internet prior to the official reveal.

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