France Football has officially unveiled the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, setting the stage for another highly competitive battle for football’s most prestigious individual prize.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, September 8, with the men’s award featuring 30 nominees following an evaluation period that included the 2025/26 club season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Among the headline names are England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, Argentina captain Lionel Messi, Spain midfielder Rodri and defending champion Ousmane Dembélé.
Other notable nominees include Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Michael Olise, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, Declan Rice, Achraf Hakimi, Luis Díaz, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Pau Cubarsí. The final list also includes Marc Cucurella and Bruno Fernandes.
The nomination of the leading contenders is expected to intensify debate over who deserves the award. Kane enters the race after a prolific campaign for Bayern, while Yamal and Rodri strengthened their claims following Spain’s World Cup triumph. Mbappé also remains a major contender after another productive season for Real Madrid and France.
The importance of this year’s award is heightened by the inclusion of performances from the 2026 World Cup, meaning international success could play a major role in the final voting.
The 2026 ceremony will take place in London on October 26, marking the first time the Ballon d’Or gala has been held in the English capital. It will also be the 70th edition of the prestigious award.
