Investigation into Ballon d'Or betting

A wide investigation is underway into suspected insider trading involving bets on the top 5 of the 2026 Ballon d'Or, five days after Harry Kane's victory. The probe, led by Upside Media, began several days before Kane's win in London.

Bets on top players revealed

Upside Media, a finance-focused media outlet, found that twelve accounts were created on the Polymarket platform to bet $264,000 on the top 5 of the 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or. The list included Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi.

Accounts made large profits

According to one of Upside Media's members, the accounts generated nearly $200,000 in winnings without losing any bets on their positions. This unusual success has raised questions about how the bets were placed.

Journalists call for transparency

Daniel Riolo, an editorialist for RMC, said the situation needs clarification. He urged France Football, the organizers of the Ballon d'Or, to explain the strange way the bets arrived and the unusually large amounts involved.

France Football remains silent

Romain Molina, a journalist, echoed these concerns, saying France Football should open an internal investigation. However, the organization has not responded to inquiries from Upside Media, adding to the concerns about transparency.

Funding source under scrutiny

Upside Media traced the funding of one of the accounts to a French platform called Deblock. Deblock confirmed they have the client's identity but cannot share private information due to regulatory rules. The media outlet plans to continue its investigation to uncover the truth.