Ballon d’Or Betting Probe: £149,000 Winnings From Exact Top-Five Prediction Under Investigation

France Football, organisers of the Ballon d’Or, have contacted police after a series of suspicious bets correctly predicted the exact top-five finishing order of this year’s men’s award, netting almost £149,000 ($200,000) in winnings. The bets were placed on Polymarket, a US-based cryptocurrency prediction market, with 12 accounts wagering over $264,000 before Monday’s ceremony at the London Palladium. Harry Kane won the award ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi – the precise order forecast by the accounts, according to an investigation by French media outlet Upside. The uncanny accuracy has raised concerns about a possible leak of confidential voting results for football’s most prestigious individual prize. While prediction markets are not regulated like traditional bookmakers, the case highlights growing scrutiny of insider information in digital betting platforms. France Football’s decision to involve police underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the potential damage to the award’s integrity. As investigations unfold, the incident may prompt calls for greater transparency around the Ballon d’Or voting process and tighter oversight of prediction markets handling high-profile events.