The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or have been announced, with Lionel Messi, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland and reigning winner Ousmane Dembélé among the biggest names on the men’s shortlist.
France Football released the nominations on Tuesday, September 8, with 30 players selected for the men’s award and another 30 shortlisted for the Women’s Ballon d’Or. The nominations recognise performances during the 2025/26 season and come after a campaign heavily influenced by domestic competitions and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre in England. It will be the first time the prestigious ceremony has been staged in London, with the location chosen partly to honour Stanley Matthews, the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
Messi returns as Ronaldo misses out
One of the biggest talking points from the nominations is the return of Lionel Messi.
The Argentina captain and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been included after another impressive year for club and country. Messi helped Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final, while also producing strong numbers with Inter Miami.
His inclusion means Messi will have another opportunity to extend his record tally of eight Ballon d’Or victories. Sports Illustrated notes that this is Messi's 17th career nomination, leaving him one nomination behind Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 18.
However, Ronaldo is absent from the 2026 shortlist.
The omission is particularly notable because Ronaldo remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the award. He won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, but his performances were not enough to earn a place among this year's 30 nominees.
Sadio Mané, another Al-Nassr forward, did make the shortlist.
Harry Kane among the leading contenders
Harry Kane enters the 2026 Ballon d’Or race as one of the strongest candidates following a remarkable campaign with Bayern Munich and England.
The England captain scored 73 goals across club and international football, according to Reuters, while helping Bayern Munich to a treble and England to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
Kane's extraordinary goalscoring campaign has made him one of the leading names in the race.
He is joined by fellow major contenders including Haaland, Mbappé and Yamal.
Haaland scored 58 goals for Manchester City and Norway, while Messi recorded 75 goals and assists across 49 matches for Inter Miami and Argentina, according to Reuters.
Yamal is also expected to be involved in the leading conversation after another outstanding campaign for Barcelona and Spain.
PSG dominate the men's shortlist
Paris Saint-Germain have the largest representation on the men's shortlist, with 10 nominees.
The Champions League-winning French club has Ousmane Dembélé, Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabián Ruiz, Willian Pacho, Marquinhos and Ferran Torres among the nominees.
Dembélé is attempting to retain the award after winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
PSG's strong showing reflects the club's dominance in European football during the season and the individual performances of several members of their squad.
Real Madrid also have a strong presence, with Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior joined by Marc Cucurella on the list after his move to the Spanish giants.
Barcelona have Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí among the nominees, while Rodri is also listed following his move from Manchester City to Barcelona.
Full Men's Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees
The 30 nominees are:
1. Jude Bellingham — Real Madrid
2. Pau Cubarsí — Barcelona
3. Marc Cucurella — Chelsea/Real Madrid
4. Ousmane Dembélé — Paris Saint-Germain
5. Luis Díaz — Bayern Munich
6. Bruno Fernandes — Manchester United
7. Gabriel — Arsenal
8. Erling Haaland — Manchester City
9. Achraf Hakimi — Paris Saint-Germain
10. Harry Kane — Bayern Munich
11. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — Paris Saint-Germain
12. Lamine Yamal — Barcelona
13. Sadio Mané — Al-Nassr
14. Marquinhos — Paris Saint-Germain
15. Lautaro Martínez — Inter Milan
16. Kylian Mbappé — Real Madrid
17. Nuno Mendes — Paris Saint-Germain
18. Lionel Messi — Inter Miami
19. João Neves — Paris Saint-Germain
20. Michael Olise — Bayern Munich
21. Willian Pacho — Paris Saint-Germain
22. Julián Quiñones — Al-Qadsiah
23. Declan Rice — Arsenal
24. Rodri — Manchester City/Barcelona
25. Fabián Ruiz — Paris Saint-Germain
26. William Saliba — Arsenal
27. Ferran Torres — Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain
28. Dayot Upamecano — Bayern Munich
29. Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid
30. Vitinha — Paris Saint-Germain.
30 players nominated for Women's Ballon d’Or
The women's award also features a highly competitive field.
Alexia Putellas is among the leading names after the absence of three-time defending champion Aitana Bonmatí, who was not nominated after an injury-hit campaign.
England stars Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood are also included, while Barcelona have several representatives including Caroline Graham Hansen, Ewa Pajor, Patri Guijarro, Claudia Pina and Cata Coll.
The full women's shortlist is:
1. Selma Bacha — OL Lyonnes
2. Barbra Banda — Orlando Pride
3. Klara Bühl — Bayern Munich
4. Esmee Brugts — Barcelona
5. Mariona Caldentey — Arsenal
6. Scarlett Camberos — Club América
7. Kerstin Casparij — Manchester City
8. Temwa Chawinga — Kansas City Current
9. Cata Coll — Barcelona
10. Melchie Dumornay — OL Lyonnes
11. Caroline Graham Hansen — Barcelona
12. Alex Greenwood — Manchester City
13. Pernille Harder — Bayern Munich
14. Patri Guijarro — Barcelona
15. Rose Lavelle — Gotham FC
16. Yui Hasegawa — Manchester City
17. Mapi León — Barcelona/London City Lionesses
18. Lorena — Kansas City Current
19. Melvine Malard — Manchester United/Chelsea
20. Manaka Matsukubo — North Carolina Courage/Chelsea
21. Ewa Pajor — Barcelona
22. Vivianne Miedema — Manchester City
23. Claudia Pina — Barcelona
24. Alexia Putellas — Barcelona/London City Lionesses
25. Alessia Russo — Arsenal
26. Momoko Tanikawa — Bayern Munich
27. Wendie Renard — OL Lyonnes
28. Khadija Shaw — Manchester City
29. Caroline Weir — Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes
30. Tessa Wullaert — Inter Milan/Como.
Other Ballon d’Or awards announced
France Football also announced nominees for several other awards that will be presented during the October ceremony.
The men's Coach of the Year shortlist includes Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, Aston Villa's Unai Emery, Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany and Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique.
The women's Coach of the Year nominees are Jonatan Giráldez, Andrée Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu and Elena Sadiku.
The men's Club of the Year nominees are Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain.
For the women's award, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club América, Manchester City and OL Lyonnes have been shortlisted.
The Yashin Trophy nominees for the men's goalkeeper award include Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Edouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Unai Simón and Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.
The Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best young player, also features Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí among its nominees.
London prepares for a historic Ballon d’Or ceremony
The 2026 ceremony carries additional significance because it marks 70 years since the Ballon d’Or was created.
The award was first presented in 1956 to England legend Stanley Matthews. Organisers have therefore chosen London as the venue for this year's ceremony, which will be held on October 26 at the London Palladium Theatre.
The ceremony will bring together the biggest names in men's and women's football, with awards recognising players, young talents, goalkeepers, coaches and clubs.
For the men's prize, the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo opens the door for a new winner or another historic victory for Messi. Dembélé will also attempt to become the latest player to successfully defend the award, while Kane, Mbappé, Haaland and Yamal are expected to attract considerable attention.
With the nominations now confirmed, the focus turns to the final vote and the question of who will succeed Dembélé as the world's best men's player.
