Harry Kane favourite as Ballon d'Or comes to London on Monday

Harry Kane is the odds-on favourite to win the Ballon d'Or when football's most famous individual award is presented at the London Palladium on Monday night, the first time the ceremony has been held outside France.

The 70th edition has moved to London as a tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the Englishman who won the first Ballon d'Or in 1956. Kane is bidding to become the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.

"Very stressful for everyone"

The Bayern Munich and England striker scored 61 goals for his club last season and 12 for his country, and has ten for Bayern and six for England so far this season. He admitted the wait to find out whether he has won was taking its toll at home.

"I think my wife would prefer to know, and my family. It's very stressful for everyone," he said. "I can see why they don't tell people. They want everyone to go, all the big names, and there will be more people watching it if they don't know, so I can understand why."

"From my point of view, I'd love to know, to not have to wait throughout the whole night. But it is their decision. We'll have to just enjoy it and try not to stress out too much. I try not to think about it. Obviously it is hard not to."

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is second favourite, with Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé next. Paris Saint-Germain, the French and European champions, have ten players on the 30-man shortlist, and Lionel Messi, the record eight-time winner, is also in the running after the World Cup.

Emery up for coach of the year

There is a Birmingham interest too. Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, is one of five nominees for men's coach of the year, alongside Mikel Arteta of Arsenal, Spain's Luis de la Fuente, Bayern's Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique of PSG. Emery marks four years in charge at Villa Park this weekend.

How the winner is chosen

The award, now run jointly by Uefa, France Football and L'Equipe, covers the season from August 2025 to the end of this summer's World Cup. A jury of journalists, one from each of the top 100 countries in Fifa's men's rankings, each pick ten players in order from the shortlist, and the player with the most points wins.

Prizes will also be presented for the best women's player, coaches, clubs, goalkeepers, young players and the top scorer. Arsenal's Alessia Russo and Manchester City's Alex Greenwood are among the England players nominated for the women's award.

The ceremony begins at 8pm on Monday and will be hosted by Kate Scott and Thierry Henry. It will be streamed free online, including on the Ballon d'Or website.

The London Palladium, in the West End, is one of Britain's best-known theatres and has hosted royal variety performances and countless shows since it opened in 1910.