French police are investigating suspected insider trading after a series of bets correctly predicted the exact order of the top five in last month’s men’s Ballon d’Or. Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Lionel Messi finished in the order backed by 12 accounts on a prediction market, while organisers France Football insist the winner is chosen by an independent vote.

French police are investigating suspected insider trading after 12 accounts on the prediction market Polymarket successfully predicted the exact order of the top five male finishers at last month’s Ballon d’Or. Kane was crowned the winner ahead of Mbappe, Yamal, Rodri and Messi, while Alexia Putellas won the women’s award.

As first reported by French outlet Upside and later verified by The Athletic, €250,000 was wagered across the accounts, with profits of almost €200,000. A source in French law enforcement added that the way the bettors managed their positions within the market also suggested potential insider trading.