Investigation reveals early betting

According to an investigation by the media Upside, several accounts placed bets through the prediction platform Polymarket on the exact top 5 of the 2026 Ballon d'Or, well before the ceremony that saw Harry Kane being awarded the prize on Monday evening.

Betting on sports awards

Polymarket is a platform where users can place bets on various events, including sports awards and other predictions, using a system that allows for the trading of opinions as if they were financial assets.

Ballon d'Or ceremony details

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony took place on Monday evening, during which Harry Kane was awarded the prestigious prize for his performances in the previous year.

Timing of the bets

The investigation found that some individuals had placed bets on the exact top 5 of the Ballon d'Or list before the ceremony, raising questions about how such predictions were made so accurately in advance.