Overview
- Organisers briefly published and then deleted three prewritten winner profiles naming Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé, and they have opened a formal probe into how the material went live.
- France Football emphasised that juror ballots were closed and sealed at the end of September so the published drafts do not determine the official result.
- The ceremony at the London Palladium was pushed back and the awards programme began with Lamine Yamal being presented the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year.
- Public expectation had been shaped by bookmakers and club delegations backing favourites such as Kane and Mbappé, which organisers say cannot affect the sealed voting process.
- The inquiry will focus on how ballondor.com published prepared winner portraits and what steps France Football will take to restore control of its live coverage and prevent future errors.