The Ballon d'Or battle: will the historic Real-Barcelona partnership be broken, or does Laporta have another view?
Who comes out on top against their rival?
London hosts the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony tonight, and the race could mark a fresh turning point in the history of football's most important individual award.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are level on wins. Each club counts 12 triumphs, based on players who lifted the award while representing them.
Can one of the Spanish giants break the deadlock and claim sole top spot? Or will Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane have the final word and overturn every calculation?
Mbappé, Real Madrid's hope
Real Madrid boast a rich history of Ballon d'Or winners. Alfredo Di Stefano was crowned twice, in 1957 and 1959, while Raymond Kopa took the award in 1958. Luis Figo then claimed the title in 2000, Ronaldo Nazario in 2002 and Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
Cristiano Ronaldo lit up the modern era in a Real Madrid shirt, winning the Ballon d'Or four times during his spell at the club, in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. Luka Modric followed in 2018, then Karim Benzema in 2022, taking the club's tally to 12 awards.
Kylian Mbappe can add his name to that list if he lands the 2026 prize. Victory would hand Real Madrid a historic lead over rivals Barcelona and break the tie currently standing between the two clubs.
Barcelona and Messi: dominance that made history
Barcelona can point to a list no less glittering. It begins with Luis Suárez Miramontes, the 1960 winner, followed by Johan Cruyff, who claimed it twice in 1973 and 1974. Hristo Stoichkov added his name in 1994, Rivaldo in 1999 and Ronaldinho in 2005.
Lionel Messi delivered the Catalan club's largest haul of all. He won the Ballon d'Or six times in a Barcelona shirt, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2019, taking the club's total to 12 and drawing them level with Real Madrid.
Now Barcelona hope Lamine Yamal can carry the torch. A triumph for the teenager would hand the club a thirteenth award, pushing them clear at the top rather than leaving the door open for Real Madrid to surge ahead.
Will Kane snatch it?
Kane: the rival who could delay the verdict
Amid the Spanish battle, Harry Kane emerges as a rival capable of changing the picture. An exceptional season with Bayern Munich and England saw him score 73 goals for club and country, according to the figures circulating in the race for the award.
Kane also claimed the European Golden Boot for the 2025-2026 season and drove Bayern Munich's domestic success. His influence stretched into the Champions League too, even as the team's run stalled at the semi-final stage.
Bayern Munich's officials have thrown their weight behind the England striker. Chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen voiced his potential delight at Kane winning the Ballon d'Or, pointing to his record-breaking goals for club and country as strong reasons to compete.
Mbappe wants to hand Real Madrid historic supremacy. Yamal wants to keep Barcelona at the summit. Between them stands Kane's chance to snatch the award and leave the two clubs level.
So will London witness the end of the historic partnership between the two Spanish giants, or will the England striker postpone the resolution of the battle to another occasion?
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