The Real Madrid forward tops a ranking published by French newspaper L’Équipe, with Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and England captain Harry Kane completing the top three ahead of the October 26 ceremony in London.

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has emerged as the leading contender in a 2026 Ballon d’Or poll, while Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal sits outside the top three ahead of the awards ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.

The ranking, places Mbappe at the top of the poll, reflecting strong support for the French forward in the build-l up to football’s most prestigious individual award. 

His position has added momentum to discussions about who could claim the honour when the winner is announced.

Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia occupies second place, while England captain Harry Kane ranks third, according to the published poll.

 Their positions underline the competition among leading players as the countdown to the ceremony continues.

Yamal’s absence from the top three stands out, given the attention surrounding the young Barcelona star and his place in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

 The ranking, however, does not establish that he has been eliminated from contention or determine where he will finish in the official result.

The poll offers a snapshot of support for the leading candidates but is not the official Ballon d’Or vote. The outcome will be determined through the award’s established voting process, meaning the positions in the newspaper’s survey should not be treated as a definitive prediction of the winner.

With the October 26 ceremony approaching, Mbappe’s lead and Yamal’s position outside the top three have added fresh talking points to the race.

Attention will now turn to the official announcement to see whether the poll reflects the eventual outcome.