Ballon d'Or 2026: London ceremony marked by chaos

The prestigious Ballon d'Or award ceremony made history by moving to the iconic London Palladium in central London for the first time in its 70-year existence. While it marked a triumphant homecoming for English striker Harry Kane, the rest of the evening was far from smooth, descending into a series of logistical nightmares and chaotic scenes that overshadowed the celebrations.

The confusion began hours before the event officially kicked off when the official Ballon d'Or website published an article prematurely declaring Harry Kane as the winner of the men's category. This sparked widespread speculation over whether it was a genuine administrative mistake or an intentional leak, though a spokesperson later clarified that articles had been prepared for all nominees in advance and did not indicate final results.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Compounding the issues, organisers selected a venue a stone's throw from Oxford Street on the exact day the famous shopping district was made traffic-free. Combined with massive crowds gathering at the entrance to catch a glimpse of football stars, severe traffic bottlenecks caused significant guest delays, forcing the ceremony start time to be pushed back by 45 minutes.

Once underway, a rowdy audience sat through a nearly two-and-a-half-hour ceremony hosted by Kate Scott and Thierry Henry, who had to pause proceedings multiple times as attendees shouted player names, accompanied by instances of booing during commercial breaks. Outside the venue, hundreds of fans attempted to breach the red carpet area, scaling and tearing down metal fencing and barricades, which resulted in tense clashes with security personnel and the Metropolitan Police.