By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Thirty of the world’s leading footballers have been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé and Vinícius Júnior among the high-profile names in contention.
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France Football, in partnership with UEFA, announced the 30-man shortlist as the race for football’s most prestigious individual award enters its final stage. The nominees were selected based on their performances during the 2025/26 season.
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Other notable nominees include Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Rodri, Michael Olise, Achraf Hakimi, Declan Rice, Bruno Fernandes, Sadio Mané, Lautaro Martínez, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Vitinha.
The shortlist also features nine players from Paris Saint-Germain, including Dembélé, Hakimi, Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz and Vitinha.
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Messi, a record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, returns to the shortlist, while Rodri, the 2024 winner, is also nominated. Dembélé is seeking to retain the award after winning the 2025 edition.
The 70th Ballon d’Or 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 is staged in the British capital and coincides with the award’s 70th anniversary.
The full 30-man shortlist is Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel Magalhães, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, Michael Olise, João Neves, Julián Quiñones, Willian Pacho, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Júnior and Vitinha.
