Nominees for 2026 Ballon d`Or announced

France Football magazine has announced the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

Thirty players will compete for the world’s top individual football award based on their performances during the 2025/26 season.

The 70th anniversary award ceremony will take place in London on October 26. For the first time, the organizers will hold the event outside Paris.

The choice of the British capital is linked to honoring the memory of Stanley Matthews – the first Ballon d’Or winner, who received the award in 1956.

Nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or

“PSG”: Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Vitinha.

“Real Madrid”: Jude Bellingham, Marc Cucurella, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior.

“Bayern Munich”: Luis Díaz, Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Dayot Upamecano.

“Arsenal”: Gabriel, Declan Rice, William Saliba.

“Barcelona”: Pau Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal, Rodri.

“Manchester City”: Erling Haaland.

“Inter Milan”: Lautaro Martínez.

“Inter Miami”: Lionel Messi.

“Manchester United”: Bruno Fernandes.

“Al-Nassr”: Sadio Mané.

“Al-Qadsiah”: Julián Quiñones.

The Ballon d’Or has been awarded since 1956.

Argentine icon Lionel Messi holds the record for the most wins in the award’s history, having claimed it eight times.

Three Ukrainian footballers have won the Ballon d’Or. Oleh Blokhin received the award in 1975, Ihor Belanov in 1986, and Andriy Shevchenko in 2004.