# Kane beats Mbappé to Ballon d’Or by just 28 points

- URL: https://apitofinal.pt/en/internacional-en/kane-beats-mbappe-to-ballon-dor-by-just-28-points/
- Published: 2026-10-31T10:38:20+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T11:19:11+00:00
- Publisher: Apito Final (apitofinal.pt)
- Section: Internacional
- Tags: Ballon d’Or 2026, Bayern Munique, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid

## Article

Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé missed out on his first Ballon d’Or by a mere 28 points, losing to Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who took home the prestigious award after a record-breaking season. It is the narrowest margin since the award’s current voting system was introduced, underlining how close the Frenchman came to achieving the feat.

In the vote, which involved 100 journalists, Kane collected 1,055 points, while Mbappé finished on 1,027, reflecting a fiercely contested race. Kane’s advantage came from receiving more first-place votes, 40 compared with 23 for the France international. Despite that gap in first-place votes, the two men’s presence in the top ten was almost identical: Kane appeared on 98 ballots, while Mbappé featured on 97.

Third place went to Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, with 881 points, 146 behind the Real Madrid striker. This latest disappointment for the Madrid club recalls Vinicius Jr.’s defeat in 2024, when the player also finished just over 40 points behind the winner. Mbappé’s defeat, however, is even tighter, increasing the pressure on the Spanish club.

Mbappé’s season was a dream, with 42 goals in 44 matches for Real Madrid and a historic World Cup campaign, in which he became the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals. Despite that stellar performance, Kane’s tally of first-place votes was decisive in the outcome. While Kane’s victory cannot be disputed, Mbappé’s performance is no less remarkable.

The positive for Real Madrid and Mbappé is that coming so close to the trophy can serve as motivation for the future. At just 27, the French striker still has time to win the Ballon d’Or more than once. If he can maintain his high level and help his team win trophies, he is sure to have another chance to lift the award next year, raising expectations about his performances in the coming competitions.