# Kane wins the Ballon d’Or, but two journalists left him off their ballots

- URL: https://apitofinal.pt/en/internacional-en/kane-wins-the-ballon-dor-but-two-journalists-left-him-off-their-ballots/
- Published: 2026-10-31T10:22:25+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T10:25:26+00:00
- Publisher: Apito Final (apitofinal.pt)
- Section: Internacional
- Tags: Bola de Ouro, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal

## Article

Harry Kane, the England international, has won the Ballon d’Or, but the voting produced some intriguing surprises. France Football published the final results and the votes of 100 journalists from different countries, who were asked to choose their top ten, with points ranging from 1 to 15 depending on the position awarded.

Despite Kane’s triumph, two journalists, representing Ivory Coast and Mexico, left him off their ballots, meaning the Tottenham striker received no points from them. On the other hand, Kylian Mbappé, who finished second, also received no votes from journalists in Scotland, Greece and Ukraine. Kane, meanwhile, was the top choice in 40 countries, while Mbappé was preferred in 23, and Lamine Yamal, who finished third, was chosen in 13, including Portugal.

One of the most notable features was China’s vote, where Mbappé was placed fifth, just behind Messi, who topped the list. That choice was made before a controversy involving the Real Madrid player. Mbappé commented on memes comparing him to Mao Zedong, which caused discontent among the Chinese. As a result, the drinks group Dongpeng decided to end its contract with the player, and Chinese state television suspended broadcasts of La Liga matches.

As for the Kopa Trophy, Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona winger, beat Pau Cubarsí by a narrow margin of just two points, with a total of 96 to 94. The award’s jury, made up exclusively of former Ballon d’Or winners, singled out Yamal, a choice that includes Lionel Messi, one of football’s greatest icons and a figure associated with the Catalan club. Besides Messi, 14 other former winners also voted for the young player.

It is worth noting that some big names, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane and Michel Platini, chose not to take part in the vote, which raises questions about the influence and relevance of such decisions in the current football landscape. The absence of these icons could have a significant impact on public perception of the awards and on how players are assessed over the years. The next edition of the Ballon d’Or promises to be just as intriguing, especially after the recent controversies and the surprising choices that marked this one.