The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees have officially been announced, with 30 of the world’s biggest football stars included in the prestigious race for the award.
The official Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees list features a remarkable collection of established superstars and elite performers, including Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Ousmane Dembélé, Bruno Fernandes, Lionel Messi and Vinícius Júnior.
UEFA and France Football announced the nominees on Tuesday, September 8, with the winner set to be crowned at a special ceremony in London later this year.
Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees Officially Revealed
The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees include 30 players competing for one of football’s most prestigious individual honours.
The shortlist contains players from some of the biggest clubs in world football, with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Manchester United and other major teams represented.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant because the Ballon d’Or is celebrating its 70th anniversary. The award was created by France Football in 1956 and has been co-organised with UEFA since 2024.
Full List of 30 Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees
Here is the complete official list of the 30 Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees, according to UEFA:
- 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
- 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 — Paris Saint-Germain
- Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid
- Vitinha — Paris Saint-Germain
The complete list was published by UEFA following the official announcement on September 8.
Big Names Included in the Ballon d’Or Race
The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees feature several players who have already established themselves among the world’s elite.
Mbappé is once again part of the conversation after another important season with Real Madrid, while Haaland remains one of the most feared goalscorers in world football.
Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is also among the nominees. His continued development has made him one of the most exciting young players in the game.
Jude Bellingham is another major name on the shortlist. The Real Madrid midfielder has become an important figure for both club and country.
The list also includes Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal defenders William Saliba and Gabriel, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Michael Olise, and PSG stars including Dembélé, Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and João Neves.
Perhaps the most notable inclusion is Lionel Messi, who continues to feature among the world’s elite despite moving away from European football.
Who Are the Favourites?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or race looks particularly competitive. Mbappé, Haaland, Dembélé, Yamal, Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior are among the names likely to attract significant attention from voters.
Dembélé’s inclusion will be particularly interesting after another outstanding period with Paris Saint-Germain, while Yamal’s nomination underlines just how quickly the Barcelona youngster has risen to the highest level.
The presence of Messi also adds another fascinating dimension to the race.
However, being nominated does not guarantee victory. The final result will depend on voting from an international jury of football journalists, with the players judged on their performances during the relevant season.
That makes the 2026 Ballon d’Or one of the most difficult awards to predict.
When Is the Ballon d’Or 2026 Ceremony?
The Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre in London. It will be the first time the prestigious ceremony has been held in London.
The event will also mark the 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or, making the 2026 ceremony an especially important occasion in the history of the award. UEFA says the choice of London also pays tribute to England’s Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner in 1956.
The ceremony will feature several other awards, including the Women’s Ballon d’Or, Men’s and Women’s Young Talent of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year and Striker of the Year.
What Makes the 2026 Race Special?
The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees represent a mixture of established legends, current superstars and emerging talent.
From Messi and Mané to Yamal and Cubarsí, the shortlist covers different generations of football.
The presence of players from clubs across Europe, as well as Messi and several stars playing outside Europe’s traditional top leagues, also makes this year’s race particularly interesting.
With 30 players now officially nominated, attention will turn towards the performances, trophies and individual achievements that could ultimately decide the winner.
The big question now is simple: who deserves to win the Ballon d’Or 2026?
The answer will be revealed in London on October 26.
