Suspicious bets returning £149,000 for predicting Ballon d’Or under investigation
Why This Matters
Key context: <ul><li><p>Bets predicted exact top-five men’s finishing order </p></li><li><p>Organisers France Football have contacted police</p></li></ul><p>A series of suspicious bets that correctly predicted the exact top-five finishing order of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/26/harry-kane-ends-englands-25-year-wait-for-a-mens-ballon-dor">this year’s Ballon d’Or</a> and generated almost $200,000 (£149,000) in winnings is being investigated by the event’s organisers, France Football, who have also contacted the police.</p><p>It has been alleged that 12 Polymarket accounts – an American cryptocurrency-based prediction market – placed the bets, with more than $264,000 wagered on the outcome before Monday’s ceremony. Their extraordinary accuracy has raised serious questions about a potential leak of confidential results before football’s most prestigious individual award. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/27/harry-kane-ballon-dor-triumph-ceremony-barney-ronay">Harry Kane was crowned the winner</a> at the ceremony at the London Palladium, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi. Remarkably, this was the exact order predicted by the group of accounts identified in French media outlet <a href="https://www.upside24.com/articles/ballon-d-or-2024-264-000-mises-sur-polymarket-suggerent-une-fuite-du-top-5-avant-596165">Upside’s investigation</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/30/ballon-dor-betting-suspicious-cryptocurrency-investigation">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.
Bets predicted exact top-five men’s finishing order Organisers France Football have contacted policeA series of suspicious bets that correctly predicted the exact top-five finishing order of this year’s Ballon d’Or and generated almost $200,000 (£149,000) in winnings is being investigated by the event’s organisers, France Football, who have also contacted the police.It has been alleged that 12 Polymarket accounts – an American cryptocurrency-based prediction market – placed the bets, with more than $264,000 wagered on the outcome before Monday’s ceremony. Their extraordinary accuracy has raised serious questions about a potential leak of confidential results before football’s most prestigious individual award. Harry Kane was crowned the winner at the ceremony at the London Palladium, finishing ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi. Remarkably, this was the exact order predicted by the group of accounts identified in French media outlet Upside’s investigation. Continue reading...
Curation & Context
This page summarizes a public news report from The Guardian. Global News Hub provides the "Why This Matters" takeaway using editorial insights and AI curation to give readers rapid, high-value context before they click through to read the full article.