France Football, in partnership with UEFA, has officially begun unveiling the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual honor. The announcement follows an exceptional season marked by intense competition across club and international football, with the final shortlists reflecting standout performances in domestic leagues, European competitions, and the 2026 World Cup.
Key Nominees for the Men’s Ballon d’Or
The much-anticipated list of 30 candidates for the men’s award includes a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talents. Among the notable names are:
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
- Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)
- Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona)
- Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain) – defending champion
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
- Luis Díaz (Liverpool)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
- Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
- Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Napoli)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Sadio Mané (Al Nassr)
- Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
- Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan)
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
- Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain)
- João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Julián Quiñones (Al Qadsiah)
- Rodri (Manchester City)
- Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
The list also includes other prominent players, with the full 30-name shortlist being revealed in stages. The winner will be determined by a vote from an international panel of sports journalists, based on individual and team performance, sportsmanship, and consistency throughout the season.
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Surprise Omission
In a striking development, the 30-player shortlist for the women’s award does not include Aitana Bonmatí, who had won the trophy for the previous three years. The nominees feature a diverse group of talents, including:
- Salma Paralluelo (Barcelona)
- Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)
- Clara Burel (Paris FC)
- Esme Brugts (Barcelona)
- Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
- Scarlett Camberos (Bayern Munich)
- Kirsten Casparij (Manchester City)
- Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)
- Cata Coll (Barcelona)
- Melchie Dumornay (Lyon)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona)
- Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)
- Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
- Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich)
- Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
- Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC)
- Mapi León (Barcelona)
- Lorena (Orlando Pride)
- Melvine Malard (Manchester United)
- Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage)
- Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City)
- Ewa Pajor (Barcelona)
- Claudia Pina (Barcelona)
- Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
- Wendie Renard (Lyon)
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
- Khadija Shaw (Manchester City)
- Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich)
- Caroline Weir (Real Madrid)
- Tessa Wullaert (Inter Milan)
Other Major Award Shortlists
Best Coach – Men
Spanish coaches dominate the men’s coaching shortlist, with five nominees:
- Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
- Luis de la Fuente (Spain national team)
- Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
- Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
- Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich) – Belgian
Notably absent are Hansi Flick, Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone, and Lionel Scaloni.
Best Coach – Women
The women’s coaching nominees include:
- Jonathan Giráldez (Lyon)
- André Jeglertz (Manchester City)
- Nils Nielsen (Japan national team)
- Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
- Elena Sadiku (Celtic / BK Häcken)
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper)
The shortlist for the best goalkeeper in the world features:
- Juan García (Espanyol)
- Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal)
- Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
- Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
- Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund)
- Édouard Mendy (Al Ahli)
- David Raya (Arsenal)
- Unai Simón (Athletic Club)
- Vozinha (Cape Verde)
- Matvey Safonov (Paris Saint-Germain)
Kopa Trophy (Best Young Player)
Among the contenders for the best young player award are two Arab stars: Moroccan Ayoub Bouaddi and Algerian Ibrahim Maza. The full list includes:
- Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia)
- Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
- Yan Diomandé (Ivory Coast)
- Lennart Karl (Germany)
- Eli Junior Kroupi (France)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain)
- Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)
- Warren Zaïre-Emery (France)
Best Club – Men and Women
For the men’s best club award, the nominees include Arsenal (Premier League champions and Champions League runners-up), Bayern Munich (Bundesliga winners), Bodø/Glimt (Norway), Flamengo (Brazil), and Paris Saint-Germain (France). In the women’s category, Barcelona (Liga F and Champions League winners) leads the list, competing with Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Lyon.
Ceremony Details
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26, 2026, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in London, marking the first time the event will be held in the English capital. During the gala, winners will be announced for all categories, including the Yashin Trophy, Kopa Trophy, and coaching awards.
As always, the Ballon d’Or remains the ultimate benchmark for individual excellence in football, drawing global attention and sparking passionate debate among fans and pundits alike.