LONDON (AFP) -- England captain Harry Kane is the favorite in a wide-open race for the Ballon d'Or at a ceremony in London on Monday, with Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe also in contention to be named the world's best soccer player.
The 70th edition of the award, established by France Football magazine, will be held in England for the first time in recognition of inaugural winner Stanley Matthews and could produce the first English winner in 25 years.
Bayern Munich striker Kane scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season, leading the German club to a league and cup double and England to the World Cup semifinals.
"I'd love to be able to achieve something like that. It would be a massive milestone in my career," said the 33-year-old.
But semifinal exits in both the Champions League and World Cup mean the outcome is far from certain.
"I think my wife would prefer to know and my family ... it's very stressful for everyone," he added.
"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."
Yamal finished second to Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele last year, and the 19-year-old Barcelona star is again among the leading contenders.
However, a hamstring injury ended his club season early, and Spain's World Cup triumph was built largely on its strength as a collective unit.
Yamal was beaten to the tournament's player and young player awards by Barcelona teammates Rodri and Pau Cubarsi, respectively.
That has not diminished his confidence ahead of the ceremony.
"For me, Mbappe and me, we're the two best players in the world," Yamal said last month.
"I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I would deserve it because of what I've won."
Mbappe, by contrast, boasts plenty of individual milestones without major trophies for either Real Madrid or France.
The 27-year-old was the top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup without winning any of those competitions.
His 10 goals at the World Cup took his career total at the tournament to 22, making him its all-time leading scorer.
"Being the all-time top scorer in World Cup history, overtaking all the great legends in the history of the sport in the most important tournament there is, is something that really stands out," Mbappe said.
"Who am I voting for? Myself."
One soccer journalist from each of the top 100 nations in FIFA's rankings is invited to vote for 10 players from a 30-man shortlist, allocating a maximum of 15 points down to one based on their rankings.
The Ballon d'Or goes to the player who receives the most points.
Although the award carries no cash prize, it can generate significant bonuses from clubs and commercial partners while increasing a player's marketing value.
Alexia Putellas is the frontrunner to win the women's award for the third time, with Aitana Bonmati's three-year reign expected to end after an injury-hit season.
Putellas, winner in 2021 and 2022, was part of the Barcelona team that regained the Champions League last season before moving to London City Lionesses.
Her former Barcelona teammate, Poland's Ewa Pajor, is the main challenger after scoring 11 Champions League goals in Barcelona's title run.