The official Ballon d’Or website is reported to have mistakenly published articles naming multiple players as winners of the men’s 2026 award ahead of the ceremony in London. Several outlets say the pages appeared hours before the event and were later deleted, prompting an investigation and uncertainty among fans about what was “leaked” versus mistakenly published.

Most coverage focuses on the same confusion: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal were each described as winners on the site, with reports emphasizing the timing—shortly before the London ceremony at the London Palladium—and the fact that the content was removed. ESPN and The Independent specifically highlight the “blunder/chaos” framing, describing the incident as an error on the official platform.

Other outlets add surrounding context rather than the exact technical details, pointing to the broader race for the prize. Some previews mention the leading contenders heading into the ceremony, while one outlet includes transfer-expert commentary on expected top finishers, and another provides a “live” feel that updates readers as the event approaches.