The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees have been announced, with Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane and defending champion Ousmane Dembele among the biggest names competing for football’s most coveted individual prize.
The 30-player men’s shortlist is heavily dominated by Paris Saint-Germain, with 10 players from the French club included. Real Madrid have four nominees, while Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also strongly represented.
Kane enters the race after an extraordinary campaign, scoring 73 goals for club and country. Mbappe remains one of the leading contenders following another prolific season, while Yamal continues to strengthen his reputation as one of football’s brightest young stars.
Dembele will look to defend the Ballon d’Or he won in 2025, but faces stiff competition from PSG teammates including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes.
Lionel Messi has also made the shortlist after his performances for Argentina at the World Cup. However, Cristiano Ronaldo has once again been left out of the nominees.
Full Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees
Jude Bellingham — Real Madrid
Pau Cubarsi — Barcelona
Marc Cucurella — Chelsea/Real Madrid
Ousmane Dembele — Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Diaz — Bayern Munich
Bruno Fernandes — Manchester United
Gabriel — Arsenal
Erling Haaland — Manchester City
Achraf Hakimi — Paris Saint-Germain
Harry Kane — Bayern Munich
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — Paris Saint-Germain
Lamine Yamal — Barcelona
Sadio Mane — Al Nassr
Marquinhos — Paris Saint-Germain
Lautaro Martinez — Inter Milan
Kylian Mbappe — Real Madrid
Nuno Mendes — Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi — Inter Miami
Joao Neves — Paris Saint-Germain
Michael Olise — Bayern Munich
Willian Pacho — Paris Saint-Germain
Julian Quinones — Al Qadsiah
Declan Rice — Arsenal
Rodri — Manchester City/Barcelona
Fabian Ruiz — Paris Saint-Germain
William Saliba — Arsenal
Ferran Torres — Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain
Dayot Upamecano — Bayern Munich
Vinicius Junior — Real Madrid
Vitinha — Paris Saint-Germain
Yamal Eyes Kopa Trophy Hat-Trick
Yamal has also been nominated for the Kopa Trophy, which recognises the best Under-21 player in world football.
The Barcelona forward has won the award in each of the last two editions and could make history by becoming a three-time winner in 2026.
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi and PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery are among the other notable nominees.
2026 Kopa Trophy Nominees
Kerim Alajbegovic, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsi, Yan Diomande, Lennart Karl, Eli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza and Warren Zaire-Emery.
Yashin Trophy Set for New Winner
The Yashin Trophy will also have a new winner after 2025 champion Gianluigi Donnarumma failed to make this year’s shortlist.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Barcelona’s Joan Garcia and Arsenal’s David Raya are among the leading contenders. Emiliano Martinez and Unai Simon are also on the 10-player shortlist.
2026 Yashin Trophy Nominees
Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Gregor Kobel, Joan Garcia, Edouard Mendy, Emiliano Martinez, David Raya, Vozinha, Unai Simon and Matvey Safonov.
The women’s Yashin Trophy shortlist includes Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Lorena, Hannah Hampton and Ayaka Yamashita.
Arteta, Enrique Among Coach of the Year Nominees
The Johan Cruyff Trophy shortlist features five high-profile managers: Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany and PSG boss Luis Enrique.
Ballon d’Or Ceremony Moves to London
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will mark a major change, with the event moving to London for the first time since 2019.
The ceremony will be held at the London Palladium Theatre on October 26. Organisers have chosen London as a tribute to Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
With the men’s race featuring several elite contenders, Yamal chasing a historic Kopa Trophy hat-trick and the Yashin Trophy guaranteed to have a new winner, the 2026 ceremony promises plenty of intrigue.
Comments are closed.