2026 Ballon d'Or Nominees Announced for London Ceremony

The race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or is officially on – and this year, football’s biggest individual prize is heading to London.

"France Football", in partnership with UEFA, released the full list of nominees on Tuesday evening, confirming a star‑studded cast for a ceremony that will break new ground on 26 October, when the Ballon d'Or gala is staged in the English capital for the first time.

That night in London will not only crown the best player in the world. The winners of the "Yashin" trophy for best goalkeeper, the "Kopa" trophy for best young player, and awards for best coach, best club and others will also be revealed, turning the event into a full showcase of the game’s current elite.

Mbappé, Messi, Rodri headline the field

At the top end of the list sit the names that have defined the past year, either with their clubs or at the 2026 World Cup.

Kylian Mbappé, now the face of Real Madrid and still the spearhead of France, leads the conversation. Lionel Messi, captain of Inter Miami and Argentina, returns to the shortlist yet again, his presence a reminder that his influence still stretches across continents. Rodri, the metronomic Spanish midfielder who has swapped Manchester City for Barcelona, stands as the emblem of Spain’s dominance and of a modern, possession‑heavy game that runs through him.

The cast around them is hardly short of star power. Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona and Spain prodigy, continues his rapid rise by joining the senior Ballon d'Or conversation. Fabián Ruiz, fresh from a season in which he lifted both the Champions League and the World Cup with Paris Saint‑Germain and Spain, is rewarded with a place among the nominees. Defending Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, still at Paris Saint‑Germain and still a key figure for France, returns to protect his crown.

Spain and PSG set the tone

Scan the list and one pattern jumps out: this is an era painted in red and blue. Players from world champions Spain and European champions Paris Saint‑Germain dominate the field, underlining how those two powerhouses have bent the sport to their will over the past year.

PSG are everywhere. Dembélé is joined by Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a spine that reflects their grip on the European game. Spain’s influence flows through Barcelona, PSG and Bayern Munich, with the likes of Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Ferran Torres, Marc Cucurella and Ruiz all on the list.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich also carry serious weight. Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior fly the flag for Madrid, while Bayern are represented by Luis Díaz, Harry Kane, Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise. Arsenal’s growing status is visible too, with Declan Rice, William Saliba and Gabriel all nominated.

Saudi Pro League breaks through

The Saudi Roshn Pro League also forces its way into the story. Two of its leading lights make the cut: Sadio Mané of Al‑Nassr, still the standard‑bearer for Senegal, and Julián Quiñones, the prolific Mexican forward driving Al‑Qadsiah’s attack.

Their inclusion underlines how the Ballon d'Or lens has widened. Performances in Saudi Arabia now sit alongside those in the Champions League and at the World Cup when the world’s best are judged.

Big omissions: Ronaldo, Salah left out

For all the glamour on the list, some absences are just as striking.

Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al‑Nassr and still the figurehead of Portugal, does not feature. Mohamed Salah, the former Liverpool star now at Trabzon and captain of Egypt, also misses out. For two players who have spent a decade living inside this conversation, their omission marks a clear shift in the game’s hierarchy.

Barcelona and Brazil winger Raphinha is another high‑profile name left on the outside, as is Pedri, the Barcelona and Spain midfielder who once looked destined to sit permanently among these nominees. The new generation has not just arrived; it has started to push established stars to the margins.

Full list of 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)
• Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona, Spain)
• Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, Spain)
• Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint‑Germain, France)
• Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich, Colombia)
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, Portugal)
• Gabriel (Arsenal, Brazil)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)
• Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint‑Germain, Morocco)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint‑Germain, Georgia)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)
• Sadio Mané (Al‑Nassr, Senegal)
• Marquinhos (Paris Saint‑Germain, Brazil)
• Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, Argentina)
• Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France)
• Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint‑Germain, Portugal)
• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)
• João Neves (Paris Saint‑Germain, Portugal)
• Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)
• Willian Pacho (Paris Saint‑Germain, Ecuador)
• Julián Quiñones (Al‑Qadsiah, Mexico)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)
• Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)
• Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint‑Germain, Spain)
• William Saliba (Arsenal, France)
• Ferran Torres (Barcelona, Spain)
• Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich, France)
• Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid, Brazil)
• Vitinha (Paris Saint‑Germain, Portugal)

On 26 October in London, one of these names will step forward and collect football’s most coveted individual award. The only question now: whose season will history remember as the defining one?