French police investigating suspected insider trading on Ballon d’Or bets

The French police are investigating suspected insider trading after a series of bets successfully predicted the exact order of the top five male finishers in last month’s Ballon d’Or. According to sources in French law enforcement with knowledge of the case, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly, the bets in question originated from 12 accounts on the prediction market Polymarket. Aside from successfully predicting the correct order — (from first to fifth) Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Lionel Messi — one source added that the behaviour of the bettors in managing their position within the market suggested potential insider trading. As initially reported by French outlet Upside , and subsequently verified by The Athletic , €250,000 ($281k) was wagered across the accounts, with profits of almost €200,000 ($225k). According to sources with knowledge of events, the Ballon d’Or organiser, France Football, was warned of the betting irregularities before the result was confirmed. After the announcement, France Football launched its own investigation, as well as contacting the SCCJ (Central Racing and Gaming Service), the department of the French police responsible for gambling. The integrity of the Ballon d’Or is an absolute priority for France Football,” a Ballon d’Or spokesperson told The Athletic . “We would like to reiterate that the winner is selected through an independent vote. “Be sure that we take these allegations of leaked results and potentially fraudulent betting very seriously. Investigations are underway to establish the facts, and determine any potential responsibility. “We are in the process of filing a complaint with the relevant police authorities. As investigations are ongoing, no further details can be shared at this stage.” The SCCJ and Polymarket have been contacted for comment. Prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi have proved controversial due to a lack of regulatory oversight and, consequently, a higher risk of insider trading. Several U.S. states have taken legal action against their involvement in sports betting, in cases which appear likely to head to the country’s Supreme Court. This article originally appeared in The Athletic . Barcelona, Bayern Munich, England, Premier League, Champions League, Soccer, La Liga, Women's Soccer 2026 The Athletic Media Company