Ballon d’Or: Nigeria’s voter picked Rodri over Kane
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Punch Newspaper
Reported by Okiki Adeduyite
Sat, 31 Oct 2026, 11:39
Photo courtesy of Punch Newspaper · Verified via News Stand NG
Source Attribution: Punch Newspaper
News Stand NG operates under ethical news aggregation guidelines. Source: Punch Newspaper. To read the unabridged investigative reporting and full gallery, visit the original publication.
Rodri finished fourth overall with 726 points, behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who won the award with 1,055 points, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, who had 1,027 points, and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, who scored 881 points. Dembélé, who won the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or, finished seventh in the 2026 edition and received no first-place votes from any of the 100 journalists who participated in the voting.
Context & Background
✦The players are awarded points according to their positions on each ballot, with 15 points for first place, 12 for second, 10 for third and progressively fewer points down to one point for 10th place.
Key Figures & Named Entities
2026:Rodri plays during the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, corresponding to week 10 of LaLiga EA Sports 2026-27, played at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, on October 25, 2026. (Photo by Urbanandsport / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP) Nigeria’s representative in the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or voting ranked Spanish midfielder Rodri as the best player in the world, despite the Manchester City star finishing fourth in the overall standings.Friday:The voting breakdown released by France Football on Friday showed that Nigeria was among 10 countries whose journalists placed Rodri first in their ballots.2025:Dembélé, who won the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or, finished seventh in the 2026 edition and received no first-place votes from any of the 100 journalists who participated in the voting.
Outlook & Next Steps
Follow original publisher reporting for subsequent developments, official responses, and verified updates.
Key Takeaways
Verified Extract
✦Rodri finished fourth overall with 726 points, behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who won the award with 1,055 points, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, who had 1,027 points, and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, who scored 881 points.
✦Dembélé, who won the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or, finished seventh in the 2026 edition and received no first-place votes from any of the 100 journalists who participated in the voting.
✦The players are awarded points according to their positions on each ballot, with 15 points for first place, 12 for second, 10 for third and progressively fewer points down to one point for 10th place.
Key Facts:2026: Rodri plays during the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, corresponding to week 10 of LaLiga EA Sports 2026-27, played at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, on October 25, 2026. (Photo by Urbanandsport / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP) Nigeria’s representative in the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or voting ranked Spanish midfielder Rodri as the best player in the world, despite the Manchester City star finishing fourth in the overall standings.Friday: The voting breakdown released by France Football on Friday showed that Nigeria was among 10 countries whose journalists placed Rodri first in their ballots.2025: Dembélé, who won the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or, finished seventh in the 2026 edition and received no first-place votes from any of the 100 journalists who participated in the voting.
Editorial Excerpt
Nigeria’s representative in the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or voting ranked Manchester City's Rodri as the best player, ahead of the eventual winner Harry Kane.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Story
What is the key takeaway from this report?
Rodri finished fourth overall with 726 points, behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who won the award with 1,055 points, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, who had 1,027 points, and Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, who scored 881 points.
What additional context is highlighted in this report?
Dembélé, who won the 2025 men’s Ballon d’Or, finished seventh in the 2026 edition and received no first-place votes from any of the 100 journalists who participated in the voting.
What timeline or key figures were confirmed?
Rodri plays during the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, corresponding to week 10 of LaLiga EA Sports 2026-27, played at the Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, on October 25, 2026. (Photo by Urbanandsport / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP) Nigeria’s representative in the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or voting ranked Spanish midfielder Rodri as the best player in the world, despite the Manchester City star finishing fourth in the overall standings.
