French business outlet Upside found 12 Polymarket accounts, all created between October 1 and 20, that staked around $264,000 on markets linked to the 2026 award. Every account supported the exact top five that were later announced: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi. Additionally, seven of the accounts had never bet on any other market. The bets generated close to $200,000 in profit.
Groupe Amaury said in a statement:
“We take very seriously the allegations of leaks of the results and potentially fraudulent bets.”
Kane won the award at the London Palladium on October 26, finishing 28 points ahead of Mbappé, while jury voting had closed on September 28, nearly a month before the ceremony. France Football has also contacted the police.
Vincent Garcia, France Football Editor-in-Chief, said:
“Only three to five people are supposed to know the result of the Ballon d’Or in advance.”
At the same time, Polymarket is banned in France, as the national gambling regulator, the ANJ, ordered internet providers to block the platform on July 16, 2026, citing bets that appeared rigged and a lack of identity checks.
