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Ballon d Or 2026: The 2026 nominees for the Ballon d’Or, the football world’s most prestigious individual award, have been released. The award ceremony will be held at the London Palladium Theater on October 26. This is the first time that the main ceremony of the Ballon d’Or is going to be held in London. The award was launched by France Football in 1956 and this year marks its 70th anniversary. From 2024, France Football and UEFA jointly organize this award. London has been chosen as the venue to honor England legend Stanley Matthews, the first winner of the Ballon d’Or.

Messi-Mbappe-Yamal in the men’s list

The 30-man list for the men’s Ballon d’Or includes several superstars from the world of football. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Vinicius Junior, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Lautaro Martinez and Vitinha have made it. Ousmane Dembele, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Michael Olise, Declan Rice, Fabian Ruiz and William Saliba are also included. The list also includes Luis Diaz, Bruno Fernandez, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Rodri, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Julian Quinones, Sadio Mane and Pub Kuberci. That is, this year’s men’s award race will see a fierce battle between stars of multiple generations.

Men’s Ballon d’Or — 30:

1. Jude Bellingham — England, Real Madrid
2. Pub Cuberci — Spain, Barcelona
3. Mark Cuqueraya — Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid
4. Ousmane Dembele — France, Paris Saint-Germain
5. Luis Diaz — Colombia, Bayern Munich
6. Bruno Fernandez — Portugal, Manchester United
7. Gabriel — Brazil, Arsenal
8. Arling Haaland — Norway, Manchester City
9. Achraf Hakimi — Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain
10. Harry Kane — England, Bayern Munich
11. Khvicha Kvaratskheliya — Georgia, Paris Saint-Germain
12. Lamine Yamal — Spain, Barcelona
13. Sadio Mane — Senegal, Al-Nasr
14. Marquinhos — Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain
15. Lautaro Martinez — Argentina, Inter
16. Kylian Mbappe — France, Real Madrid
17. Nuno Mendes — Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain
18. Lionel Messi — Argentina, Inter Miami
19. Joao Neves — Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain
20. Michael Olisse — France, Bayern Munich
21. Willian Pacho — Ecuador, Paris Saint-Germain
22. Julian Quinones — Mexico, Al-Qadsiyah
23. Declan Rice — England, Arsenal
24. Rodri — Spain, Manchester City/Barcelona
25. Fabian Ruiz — Spain, Paris Saint-Germain
26. William Saliba — France, Arsenal
27. Ferran Torres — Spain, Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain
28. Dayot Upamecano — France, Paris Saint-Germain
29. Vinicius Junior — Brazil, Real Madrid
30. Vitinha — Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain

Rafinha-Pedri’s omission is a big surprise

After the release of the nomination list, the most discussion started around a few big names. Brazilian star Rafinha, who had a fantastic season for Barcelona, ​​did not make the shortlist for the men’s Ballon d’Or. Along with him, Barcelona’s Spanish stars Pedri and Dani Olmo are also not seen in the list of nominees. Rafinha’s absence is particularly surprising, as his performances for the club have been praised throughout the season. As a result, questions have already started to arise in football circles about his exclusion. At the same time, the absence of several key players from Barcelona has made this list even more surprising.

A big surprise in the women’s category too

The women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist also has a number of big names. Stars such as Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen, Eva Payor, Claudia Pina, Patri Giharo and Alexia Putias have received nominations. Arsenal’s Mariona Caldente, Alessia Russo and Manchester City’s Viviane Miedema, Khadijah Shaw and Yui Hasegawa. But the biggest surprise is the absence of Spain’s Aitana Bonmati. The star, who won the Ballon d’Or in the last three editions, did not get a nomination this time. As a result, there is a possibility of a new star winning the award in the women’s category.

Women’s Ballon d’Or — 30:

1. Selma Bacha — France, OL Lyon
2. Barbra Banda — Zambia, Orlando Pride
3. Esme Brugts — Netherlands, Barcelona
4. Clara Bull — Germany, Bayern Munich
5. Mariona Caldente — Spain, Arsenal
6. Scarlet Camberos — Mexico, Club America
7. Kerstin Casparis — Netherlands, Manchester City
8. Temwa Chawinga — Malawi, Kansas City Current
9. Cata Cole — Spain, Barcelona
10. Melchi Dumorne — Haiti, OL Leon
11. Caroline Graham Hansen — Norway, Barcelona
12. Alex Greenwood — England, Manchester City
13. Patri Giharo — Spain, Barcelona
14. Pernille Herder — Denmark, Bayern Munich
15. Yui Hasegawa — Japan, Manchester City
16. Rose Lovell — United States, Gotham FC
17. Mapi León — Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses
18. Lorena — Brazil, Kansas City Current
19. Melvin Mallard — France, Manchester United/Chelsea
20. Manaka Matsukubo — Japan, North Carolina Courage/Chelsea
21. Viviane Miedema — Netherlands, Manchester City
22. Ewa Payor — Poland, Barcelona
23. Claudia Pina — Spain, Barcelona
24. Alexia Putias — Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses
25. Wendy Renner — France, OL Lyon
26. Alessia Russo — England, Arsenal
27. Khadija Shaw — Jamaica, Manchester City
28. Momoko Tanikawa — Japan, Bayern Munich
29. Caroline Weir — Scotland, Real Madrid/OL Lyon
30. Tessa Oulart — Belgium, Inter/Como

Coaches and clubs also fight in the category

Not only the footballers, but also the nominees for the best coach and best club awards have been revealed. Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique are in the running for men’s coach of the year. But there are big surprises in this category too. Hansi Flick, who led Barcelona to a great season, did not make the list. Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain are in the running for the best men’s clubs. Barcelona, ​​Bayern Munich, Club America, Manchester City and OL Lyon were nominated for best club in the women’s category.

Men’s Best Coaches — 5:

1. Mikel Arteta — Spain, Arsenal
2. Luis de la Fuente — Spain, Spain national team
3. Unai Emery — Spain, Aston Villa
4. Vincent Kompany — Belgium, Bayern Munich
5. Luis Enrique — Spain, Paris Saint-Germain

Best Women’s Coaches — 5:

1. Jonathan Giraldes — Spain, OL Leon
2. Andre Jagerletz — Sweden, Manchester City
3. Nils Nielsen — Denmark, Japan national team
4. Pere Romeu — Spain, Barcelona
5. Elena Sadiku — Sweden, Celtic/Haken

Best Men’s Clubs — 5:

1. Arsenal — England
2. Bayern Munich — Germany
3. Bodo/Glimt — Norway
4. Flamengo — Brazil
5. Paris Saint Germain — France

Best Women’s Clubs — 5:

1. Barcelona — Spain
2. Bayern Munich — Germany
3. Club America — Mexico
4. Manchester City — England
5. OL Lyon — France

Battle of young talents and goalkeepers

With the 2026 Ballon d’Or, the competition for young talents and goalkeepers is also attracting special attention. The men’s top young talent list includes 10, including Lamine Yamal, Pub Kubersi, Warren Zaire-Emery, Ibrahim Maja, Ayoub Bouadi, Lennart Karl and Ian Diomande. Nominees in the women’s category were Vicky Lopez, Verle Burman, Felicia Schroeder, Clara Serrahardi and Lily Yohannes. Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martinez, David Raya, Yassin Bunu and Unai Simon are in the running for the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. The women’s division includes Kata Cole, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, Anne-Kathrin Berger and Ayaka Yamashita.

Men’s Best Emerging Talent — 10:

1. Kerim Alajbegovic — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Salzburg/Juventus
2. Ayoub Bouadi — Morocco, Lille/Manchester City
3. Pub Cuberci — Spain, Barcelona
4. Yann Diomande — Ivory Coast, Leipzig/Real Madrid
5. Lennart Karl — Germany, Bayern Munich
6. Elie Junior Croupy — France, Bournemouth
7. Lamine Yamal — Spain, Barcelona
8. Yohan Manzambi — Switzerland, Freiburg/Aston Villa
9. Ibrahim Maza — Algeria, Leverkusen
10. Warren Zaire-Emery — France, Paris Saint-Germain

Women’s Best Emerging Talent — 5:

1. Verle Boorman — Netherlands, Chelsea
2. Vicky Lopez — Spain, Barcelona
3. Felicia Schröder — Sweden, Haken/Real Madrid
4. Clara Serrahardi — Spain, Barcelona
5. Lily Yohannes — United States, OL Leon

Best Men’s Goalkeepers — 10:

1. Yassin Bounu — Morocco, Al Hilal
2. Thibaut Courtois — Belgium, Real Madrid
3. Juan Garcia — Spain, Barcelona
4. Gregor Kobel — Switzerland, Borussia Dortmund
5. Emiliano Martinez — Argentina, Aston Villa/Chelsea
6. Edouar Mendi — Senegal, Al Ahli
7. David Raya — Spain, Arsenal
8. Matvei Safonov — Russia, Paris Saint-Germain
9. Unai Simon — Spain, Athletic Club
10. Vozinha — Cape Verde, Chavez/Colo-Colo

Best Women’s Goalkeepers — 5:

1. Ann-Katrin Berger — Germany, Gotham FC
2. Cata Cole — Spain, Barcelona
3. Hannah Hampton — England, Chelsea
4. Lorena — Brazil, Kansas City Current
5. Ayaka Yamashita — Japan, Manchester City

Who will win the coveted prize?

Ever since the nomination list for this year’s Ballon d’Or has been announced, speculation has started about the potential winner. In the men’s category, stars like Messi, Mbappe, Yamal, Dembele, Haaland, Vinicius and Bellingham are in the discussion. On the other hand, the absence of sisters in the women’s category has increased the chances of seeing a new winner. A total of 13 categories will be awarded, including the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, Best Young Talent, Best Goalkeeper, Best Coach, Best Club and Best Striker. Besides, Socrates Award will also be given in recognition of social initiatives and humanitarian work. It will be known in London on October 26, who will finally get this great honor in the world of football.