FOOTBALL’S BIGGEST STARS BATTLE FOR BALLON D’OR GLORY TONIGHT AS ZAMBIA’S BARBRA BANDA EYES WOMEN’S CROWN
The football world turns its attention to London tonight, Monday, 26 October 2026, as the biggest names in the game gather for the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards ceremony.
For the first time in its 70-year history, the ceremony will take place in London, at the famous London Palladium, instead of its traditional home in Paris.
The men’s award promises a closely watched contest, with England captain Harry Kane, Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé among the leading contenders.
Kane enters the ceremony as a prominent favourite following an extraordinary season in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, helping Bayern Munich win the German league and cup double.
However, Yamal, who helped Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Mbappé, who claimed the tournament’s Golden Boot, are expected to provide strong competition.
Last year’s men’s Ballon d’Or was won by French international Ousmane Dembélé, who beat Yamal and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha to the prestigious award following an outstanding season with PSG.
BARBRA BANDA AMONG WOMEN’S BALLON D’OR CONTENDERS
There will also be considerable African interest in the women’s category, where Zambia’s Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga are among the 30 nominees.
Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride in the United States, continues to fly Zambia’s flag on the international stage, having established herself among the world’s leading female footballers.
Chawinga, who represents Kansas City Current, has also attracted international recognition following her outstanding performances in American women’s football.
Other notable contenders include Spanish star Alexia Putellas, Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor, England international Alessia Russo, Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey and Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw of Jamaica.
Putellas, a two-time winner in 2021 and 2022, is widely regarded as a leading contender for this year’s women’s crown.
The 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or was won by Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí, who claimed the award for an extraordinary third consecutive year, having also won in 2023 and 2024.
However, Bonmatí is not among this year’s 30 nominees, meaning a different player will lift the women’s trophy tonight.
The ceremony, which marks 70 years since England’s Sir Stanley Matthews won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956, will begin at 22:00 hours Zambian time and 23:00 hours Turkish time.
The awards will also recognise outstanding young players, goalkeepers, coaches and football clubs.
CAN BARBRA BANDA BRING THE WOMEN’S BALLON D’OR HOME TO ZAMBIA, AND WHO WILL TAKE THE MEN’S CROWN?