A Razor-Thin 28-Point Margin

Harry Kane edged out runner-up Kylian Mbappé by a mere 28 points. The contest was even closer than the 2024 race between Rodri and Vinicius Jr. (41 points).

Three Jurors Excluded Mbappé Entirely

In a surprising twist, three voters left Mbappé completely out of their top 10 ballots. Ukraine's representative slotted Kane in ninth position while overlooking Mbappé altogether. The Greek voter omitted both the Real Madrid forward and Lamine Yamal. Meanwhile, the Scottish journalist gave Kane top billing and Yamal second, but snubbed the Frenchman entirely.

First-Place Votes Proved Decisive

Kane's advantage at the top of individual ballots ultimately secured his victory. The Bayern Munich striker received 40 first-place votes compared to Mbappé's 23. That disparity made all the difference, as both contenders appeared on an identical number of total podium selections across the 100 jurors.