Ballon d'Or betting probe: Accounts won more than $2 million

French police have opened an inquiry into suspicious betting activity connected to the 2026 Ballon d'Or after a group of accounts on the Polymarket platform correctly predicted the exact top-five ranking.

Authorities and the award organiser are investigating unusual wagers

According to press reports, twelve accounts backed the identical finishing order: Harry Kane ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi. The anonymous bettors reportedly staked in total more than $264,000 and each collected roughly $200,000 — combined winnings exceeding $2 million.

Investigators flagged several red flags: multiple profiles were created shortly before the Ballon d'Or ceremony and some placed their first bets only minutes after registering. Seven of the accounts had no prior activity on other betting markets, the reports say.

France Football, the organiser of the award, has launched its own internal review and notified French police as part of an effort to determine whether anyone had access to confidential voting results before they were officially announced.

So far there is no confirmation that the outcome was revealed illegally, nor has the identity of those behind the betting accounts been established.

Photo: FC Bayern @FCBayernEN (X)