Ballon d'Or odds dramatically change just two days before winner is announced
The odds of Lamine Yamal winning the Ballon d'Or have shifted dramatically in recent hours, with the Barcelona forward drifting from 9/4 to 5/1 ahead of Monday's awards ceremony.
It looks increasingly likely that this year's Ballon d'Or winner will be one of three players: Yamal, Harry Kane or Kylian Mbappe.
Yamal has certainly put himself in contention. He notched 16 goals and 11 assists in Spain's top flight last season as Barcelona retained their La Liga crown with relative ease.
READ MORE: Harry Kane responds to Lamine Yamal's Ballon d'Or claim after making Bundesliga history
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The 19-year-old also won the Spanish Super Cup before helping Spain win the 2026 World Cup, an achievement that has previously played a significant role in deciding the winner.
That being said, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is the heavy favourite with many bookmakers following a record-breaking campaign that featured 73 goals in 65 games in all competitions.
In fact, on Saturday morning, Kane was leading the betting at a best price of 1/3 with Sky Bet, according to Oddschecker.
Yamal, meanwhile, has seen his odds drift over the past few hours, with three of the 15 bookmakers tracked lengthening their prices, including Paddy Power, who have moved from 9/4 to 5/1.
In short, some consider the teenager less likely to claim the award.
Harry Kane winning award ahead of Ballon d'Or ceremony might have impacted odds
So, why have Yamal's odds drifted so much? Kane being crowned winner of the ‘100 MARCA’ award just days before the Ballon d'Or ceremony is certainly a possible factor.
The award is decided by a jury of international journalists, former footballers and coaches. In total, 226 voters picked their top 15 from among the 100 nominees, with 30 points for first place, 25 for second, and 23 for third.
Kane won after finishing on 3,962 points, which was just 25 more than Yamal (3,937), but the result could offer an indication of how the Ballon d'Or voting will unfold.
Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, finished third on 3,440 points ahead of Rodri, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lionel Messi, Fabian Ruiz, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Pau Cubasi.
Lamine Yamal gives 'completely honest' Ballon d'Or verdict
If he does win the award, Yamal will overtake former Barcelona striker Ronaldo Nazario by becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the award. For context, Ronaldo was 21 when he won in 1997.
Last month, Yamal backed himself to win the award but also claimed that his age was holding him back.
”Being completely honest, it’s not just this year I’ve been at a Ballon d’Or [winning] level, but longer," he told The Guardian.
"Everyone knows that; they know I am differential. I think people think: ‘Lamine is 19, he’ll win it at some point, so let’s say someone else…’ I just have to win, win, win, and there will be a time when there’s no debate.
"There will be people who love me, people who say: ‘What a pain in the a*** he is’, and that’s fine.”
Topics: Ballon d'Or, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane, FC Barcelona, La Liga
Jack Kenmare