Organisers of the Ballon d'Or award, France Football, are determined to keep the winner of the 2026 award "a complete secret" until the day of the ceremony.
They want to follow the same procedure as in 2025.
Last year, nobody knew that Paris Saint-Germain winger, Ousmane Dembele had won, until the hosts announced his name.
Even Dembele himself was not informed ahead of the envelope being opened on stage.
All the votes for the winner have already been submitted by over 100 journalists around the world.
This year's Ballon d'Or award will hold on October 26.
2026 Ballon d'Or: Organisers to keep winner 'secret' as votes are counted