September 9 – Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé lead the men’s shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, revealed on Tuesday.
The female nominees include Alexia Putellas, who moved from Barcelona to London City Lionesses in the summer, prolific Manchester City and Jamaican striker Bunny Shaw, and Alessia Russo.
Kane gets it after a prolific season with Bayern Munich and England, with Barcelona’s Yamal and Real Madrid’s Mbappé also included after standout campaigns. The winners will be crowned in London on October 26.
A nomination stands out for sentiment. Lionel Messi returns to the list for the first time since 2023, when he won a record-extending eighth award after moving to Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
The breakdown of the club tells its own story. Paris Saint-Germain, fresh from winning a Champions League and a national double, dominates with 10 nominees, ahead of seven from LaLiga and four from the Premier League. Unsurprisingly, PSG are favorites for Men’s Club of the Year, along with Bayern, Arsenal, Flamengo and Bodo/Glimt.
Rodri, the winner of 2024, presents himself again. The race for young talent includes 10 names, Yamal among them, while Vozinha wins a goalkeeper of the year award for his World Cup heroics. The list of coaches consists of Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente and Unai Emery.
With PSG stacking the ballot after their brace, the smart money is on them. But in such a deep field, and with Yamal’s meteoric rise, London on October 26 promises a real contest.
Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees: full lists
Golden Ball: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Ne Lionel Pa, Michael Olise, Ne Lionel Messi, Michael João Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Jr., Vitinha
Young talent of the year: Kerim Alajbegović, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsí, Yan Diomandé, Lennart Karl, Eli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaïre-Emery
Goalkeeper of the year: Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Édouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Vozinha, Unai Simón
Manager of the Year: Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Lluís de la Font, Unai Emery
Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo, Bodo/Glimt
Women’s Ballon d’Or nominees: Complete lists
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Buhl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi León, Melchie Ma Maltsuard, Lorena, Viviane Ma Maltsued Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir, Tessa Wullaert
Young Female Talent of the Year: Veerle Buurman, Vicky Lopez, Felicia Schroder, Clara Serrajordi, Lily Yohannes
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, Ayaka Yamashita
Female Coach of the Year: Jonatan Giraldez, Andree Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu, Elena Sadiku
Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club America, Manchester City, OL Lyonnes
Contact the writer of this story at nick.webster@insideworldfootball.com