Footy Fix: Who will win Ballon d'Or as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi vie for prize

EFL League Cup: What Happened

CBS Sports reported on Monday, October 26, 2026 in a story involving EFL League Cup, Footy Fix, Harry Kane. Here is how the report opens:

The EFL League Cup returns with Arsenal in action on Tuesday…

Photos: CBS Sports

It is one of many Soccer stories we are following today, and 4 outlets are covering it. Below are the key takeaways, how the story is being reported across the sport, background on Lionel Messi and what to watch next.

Key Takeaways

• The story: Footy Fix: Who will win Ballon d'Or as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi vie for prize
• Who’s involved: EFL League Cup, Footy Fix, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe
• League: Soccer
• First reported: Monday, October 26, 2026 by CBS Sports
• Coverage: 4 outlets are covering it: CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, ESPN and BBC Sport
• Trending: No. 12 on the ForTheFans trending list right now

How Other Outlets Are Covering It

The same SOC story, as reported by 3 other outlets:

• Ballon d’Or chaos as Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe published as winners on websiteYahoo Sports The official Ballon d’Or website posted the articles before the ceremony and has since deleted them
• Ballon d'Or blunder! Site 'leaks' Kane, Yamal and Mbappé as winnersESPN The official Ballon d'Or website mistakenly published articles naming three different players as winners of the 2026 men's award, hours before Monday's ceremony in London.
• Sources: Mbappé's Madrid end Ballon d'Or boycottESPN Real Madrid will have representation at the Ballon d'Or award again, with Kylian Mbappé leading the team's delegation at the event, sources have told ESPN.
• Kylian Mbappe only behind Cristiano Ronaldo as he hits 100-goal milestone for Real MadridYahoo Sports Kylian Mbappe reached the 100-goal milestone for Real Madrid in spectacular fashion, scoring twice in the 2-1 victory over Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou. The French forward needed just 116 appearances...
• Ballon d'Or winner? Kane's best Bundesliga goalsBBC Sport With the 2026 Ballon d'Or just around the corner, BBC Sport looks back at some of Harry Kane's best goals in a Bayern Munich shirt.
• Ballon d'Or Power Rankings: Why Harry Kane should win over Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel MessiCBS Sports Here's how the Ballon d'Or contenders rank as we near the end of September

Background: Lionel Messi

Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for and captains the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in history, he played for the Argentina national team for 21 years.

Text from Wikipedia’s Lionel Messi article, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What’s Next for EFL League Cup

For fans following EFL League Cup, the next things to watch are the transfer news, lineups, standings and injury updates. Stories like this one tend to move quickly, so check back for follow-up reports and reaction as more outlets pick it up.

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