The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees have been revealed, with Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi among the biggest names competing for football’s most prestigious individual prize. The full shortlists were announced Tuesday, with the winners set to be crowned at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.
The list includes 30 players in the men’s category, alongside 30 nominees for the women’s award and separate shortlists for the Kopa Trophy, Yashin Trophy, Coach of the Year and Club of the Year awards. Reigning men’s winner Ousmane Dembélé returns to defend his title, while 2024 winner Rodri and eight-time winner Messi are also in contention.
Full Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees
OUR 2026 MEN’S BALLON D’OR NOMINEES! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/GQFsH5u5lO
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
Paris Saint-Germain leads all clubs with 10 players on the men’s shortlist following a highly successful campaign. Dembélé, who won the award last year, is joined by several PSG teammates.
The complete men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees are:
- Jude Bellingham — Real Madrid
- Pau Cubarsí — Barcelona
- Marc Cucurella — Chelsea/Real Madrid
- Ousmane Dembélé — Paris Saint-Germain
- Luis Díaz — 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 Mané — Al Nassr
- Marquinhos — Paris Saint-Germain
- Lautaro Martínez — Inter Milan
- Kylian Mbappé — Real Madrid
- Nuno Mendes — Paris Saint-Germain
- Lionel Messi — Inter Miami
- João Neves — Paris Saint-Germain
- Michael Olise — Bayern Munich
- Willian Pacho — Paris Saint-Germain
- Julián Quiñones — Al Qadsiah
- Declan Rice — Arsenal
- Rodri — Manchester City/Barcelona
- Fabián Ruiz — Paris Saint-Germain
- William Saliba — Arsenal
- Ferran Torres — Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain
- Dayot Upamecano — Bayern Munich
- Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid
- Vitinha — Paris Saint-Germain
Kane enters the race after a prolific season for Bayern Munich and England, while Yamal continues his rapid rise at Barcelona. Mbappé is also among the leading contenders following another standout campaign with Real Madrid.
Messi’s inclusion is one of the biggest stories on the list. The Inter Miami forward returns to the shortlist for the first time since winning the award in 2023. His nomination is the 17th of his career, one behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 18.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG Feature Heavily
PSG’s 10 nominees are the most of any club, while Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Manchester City also have multiple representatives.
Rodri is back on the shortlist after winning the award in 2024 and is now listed as a Barcelona player following his move from Manchester City. Yamal and Cubarsí give Barcelona two more nominees, while Ferran Torres is recognized for his performances with the club before moving to PSG.
Real Madrid has Bellingham, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Cucurella among its representatives.
The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees also include several players from outside Europe’s traditional powerhouses, including Messi at Inter Miami, Mané at Al Nassr and Quiñones at Al Qadsiah.
Full Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees
OUR 2026 WOMEN’S BALLON D’OR NOMINEES! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/bYxGIbgUG9
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
The women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist is also packed with established stars. Aitana Bonmatí is notably absent after injuries prevented her from pursuing a fourth consecutive award.
The complete women’s nominees are:
- Selma Bacha — OL Lyonnes
- Barbra Banda — Orlando Pride
- Klara Bühl — Bayern Munich
- Esmee Brugts — Barcelona
- Mariona Caldentey — Arsenal
- Scarlett Camberos — Club América
- Kerstin Casparij — Manchester City
- Temwa Chawinga — Kansas City Current
- Cata Coll — Barcelona
- Melchie Dumornay — OL Lyonnes
- 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/London City Lionesses
- Lorena — Kansas City Current
- Melvine Malard — Manchester United/Chelsea
- Manaka Matsukubo — North Carolina Courage/Chelsea
- Vivianne Miedema — Manchester City
- Ewa Pajor — Barcelona
- Clàudia Pina — Barcelona
- Alexia Putellas — Barcelona/London City Lionesses
- Wendie Renard — OL Lyonnes
- Alessia Russo — Arsenal
- Khadija Shaw — Manchester City
- Momoko Tanikawa — Bayern Munich
- Caroline Weir — Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes
- Tessa Wullaert — Inter Milan/Como
Barcelona is heavily represented, with Pajor, Putellas, Graham Hansen, Guijarro, Coll, Pina and Brugts all making the shortlist.
Yamal Leads Kopa Trophy Shortlist
Nominated for the 2026 Men’s Young Talent of the Year ⬇️
🇧🇦 Kerim Alajbegović
🇲🇦 Ayyoub Bouaddi
🇪🇸 Pau Cubarsí
🇨🇮 Yan Diomandé
🇩🇪 Lennart Karl
🇫🇷 Éli Junior Kroupi
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal
🇨🇭 Johan Manzambi
🇩🇿 Ibrahim Maza
🇫🇷 Warren Zaïre-Emery #ballondor pic.twitter.com/pQCe6SwtRZ— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
Yamal is also nominated for the Kopa Trophy, which recognizes the best young player in world football. The Barcelona star has already won the award twice and is attempting to become a three-time winner.
The Kopa Trophy nominees are Kerim Alajbegović, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsí, Yan Diomandé, Lennart Karl, Éli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza and Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Yamal’s presence on both the senior and young-player shortlists highlights his extraordinary rise at Barcelona and with Spain.
Full Yashin Trophy Goalkeeper Nominees
Nominated for the 2026 Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year ⬇️
🇲🇦 Yassine Bounou
🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois
🇪🇸 Joan García
🇨🇭 Gregor Kobel
🇦🇷 Emiliano Martínez
🇸🇳 Édouard Mendy
🇪🇸 David Raya
🇷🇺 Matvey Safonov
🇪🇸 Unai Simón
🇨🇻 Vozinha#ballondor pic.twitter.com/kwUl3QKX3f— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
Ten goalkeepers have been nominated for the Yashin Trophy, named after Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or.
he nominees are Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Édouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Vozinha and Unai Simón.
Donnarumma, who won the Yashin Trophy in 2025, is not on this year’s shortlist.
Coach of the Year Nominees
Nominated for the 2026 Men’s Coach of the Year ⬇️
Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
Luis de la Fuente – Spain national team
Unai Emery – Aston Villa
Vincent Kompany – Bayern Munich
Luis Enrique – Paris-SG pic.twitter.com/R6QOpW9j9l— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
The men’s Coach of the Year award will be contested by Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente and Unai Emery.
The women’s nominees are Jonatan Giráldez of OL Lyonnes, Andrée Jeglertz of Manchester City, Pere Romeu of Barcelona, Elena Sadiku of BK Häcken and former Japan coach Nils Nielsen.
Club of the Year Nominees
Here is our first recap!
Nominated the Club of the Year ⬇️
Follow our live https://t.co/tzQSMLbRtM pic.twitter.com/6W3Rm7Y5dG
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
PSG, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo and Bodø/Glimt have been nominated for Men’s Club of the Year.
PSG won the award last year and will be seeking a second consecutive victory after another successful European campaign.
The Women’s Club of the Year nominees are Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, OL Lyonnes and Club América.
When Is the 2026 Ballon d’Or Ceremony?
🌕🏴 OFFICIAL: The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London this year.
Save the date: October 26th, 2026. 🗓️
Who’s gonna win it? 🫵🏼👀 pic.twitter.com/p6wk5iJGJF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 28, 2026
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26 in London, England. It will be the first time since 2019 that the ceremony has been held outside Paris.
The move to London will also pay tribute to Stanley Matthews, who won the inaugural Ballon d’Or.
With the nominees now confirmed across all major categories, attention will turn to the voting and the final rankings. Kane, Yamal, Mbappé, Messi, Dembélé and Rodri headline an exceptionally competitive men’s field, while the women’s award is wide open following Bonmatí’s absence.
The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees have now set the stage for an awards night featuring the biggest names, clubs and coaches in world football, with the winners to be announced in October.
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