Chinese Journalist Publishes Ballon d'Or Voting Ballot
Titan Sports editor Lu Ming reveals his ranking for the prestigious annual soccer award.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Soccer
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Lu Ming, the sole Chinese representative for the Ballon d'Or, has disclosed his voting selections for the international award. His ballot includes Lionel Messi in the top position, followed by Ousmane Dembélé and Rodri.
Why it matters
The disclosure highlights the individual voting preferences that help determine the outcome of the Ballon d'Or. It also follows controversy involving Kylian Mbappé, who finished second in the overall results but faced backlash in China.
Lionel Messi recorded 8 goals and 4 assists during the World Cup, a key metric for his top ranking on the ballot. Voting for the award concluded on 28 September.
The players
Lu Ming
He is the editor-in-chief of Titan Sports and serves as the only representative from China on the Ballon d'Or voting panel.
Lionel Messi
He is a professional soccer player who achieved a notable performance during the World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé
He is a professional soccer player who finished as the runner-up for the Ballon d'Or award.
Harry Kane
He is a professional soccer player who secured the top position in the final Ballon d'Or results.
The details
Lu Ming, the editor-in-chief of Titan Sports, ranked Kylian Mbappé fifth on his ballot due to the player's lack of major titles during the season. This decision occurs amid reports that several Chinese brands terminated partnerships with Mbappé following his release of controversial video clips.
Timeline
Ballon d'Or voting concluded on 28 September 2026.
Season Trajectory
The public disclosure of individual ballots influences the broader narrative surrounding the Ballon d'Or voting process. It shapes how experts and the public evaluate the consistency of selection criteria across international journalists.
Readers can assess how specific ballots impact the final point totals that crowned Harry Kane the winner over Kylian Mbappé. This information provides insight into the weighting of international tournament stats like Messi's 12 combined goal contributions.
The takeaway
The publication of individual ballots offers transparency into how experts value different achievements across a long season. Fans can compare their own rankings against these official choices to better understand the subjective nature of sporting awards.
Further reading
For more on the annual selection of the world's best players, visit Soccer.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Goal.
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