French Police Investigate KSh26 Million Ballon d’Or Betting Scandal
French police are investigating a suspected betting scandal after cryptocurrency prediction-market wagers accurately predicted the exact order of the top five male finishers at the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards.
The investigation centres on 12 accounts on the prediction platform Polymarket, which reportedly placed bets worth approximately €250,000 (about $281,000) and generated profits of nearly $200,000 to $225,000 (approximately KSh26 million to KSh29 million).
The accounts correctly predicted the final ranking, with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane taking first place, followed by Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi.
The accuracy of the predictions raised suspicions among investigators, particularly because the bets reportedly focused on the precise finishing positions rather than simply predicting the overall winner.
Suspicious Betting Patterns Raise Questions
According to investigations first reported by French outlet Upside and subsequently verified by The Athletic, the 12 accounts displayed unusual betting patterns.
Seven of the accounts reportedly had no previous betting activity in other markets, while six placed their first wagers within 15 minutes of being created.
Investigators are examining whether the accounts were connected and whether the individuals behind them may have accessed confidential information about the award results before they were publicly announced. However, no individual has been publicly identified as responsible for leaking the information, and insider trading has not been established.
France Football Launches Investigation
France Football, the publication responsible for organising the Ballon d’Or, was reportedly alerted to the suspicious betting activity before the official announcement of the results.
Following the ceremony, the organisation launched an internal investigation and contacted France’s Central Racing and Gaming Service (SCCJ), the police department responsible for gambling-related matters.
A spokesperson for France Football maintained that the winner is selected through an independent voting process and said the organisation takes allegations of leaked results and potentially fraudulent betting seriously.
The organisation also confirmed that it was preparing to file a complaint with the relevant authorities.
Ballon d’Or Integrity Under Scrutiny
The controversy has brought renewed attention to the security of confidential information surrounding major football awards.
The Ballon d’Or winner is determined through a voting process involving international journalists, making the protection of results before the ceremony an important part of maintaining the award’s credibility.
The investigation is now expected to establish whether the suspicious wagers were the result of extraordinary predictions or access to information that should have remained confidential.
As French authorities continue examining the case, the focus remains on identifying the people behind the accounts and determining whether any rules or laws were broken.
For now, the suspected leak and possible insider trading remain allegations, with investigations yet to establish responsibility.
