A mystery shrouded in secrecy in Paris: the Ballon d'Or winner's identity hidden until the very last moment

Organizers of the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony have managed to keep the winner's identity under the tightest security: on the eve of today's event, not a single club or player knows the outcome of the vote.

Details: According to the respected Spanish radio station Cadena SER, the unprecedented secrecy surrounding the final results has led every camp to believe in the success of its own candidate. At Bayern Munich and in England, they are convinced that Harry Kane will claim the game's most prestigious individual award, while in Spain, Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is regarded as the evening's leading favourite.

Meanwhile, in France and within the Real Madrid camp, there is no doubt that the coveted trophy will go to Los Blancos' striker Kylian Mbappé. The complete absence of media leaks has turned the upcoming gala into the most intriguing ceremony in years, with the winner set to discover his triumph only when the envelope is opened on stage.

It is worth noting that the award organizers deliberately abandoned the previous practice of informing the laureate in advance and recording the traditional interview before the ceremony at Paris's Théâtre du Châtelet. The new regulations were introduced to preserve maximum drama and rule out any leaks, ensuring a genuine reaction from the biggest stars in world football live on air.

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