Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe and other leading names in world football are among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, as the race for the prestigious individual prize officially gets underway.
The nominees for football’s most coveted individual award were unveiled on Tuesday, with some of the biggest stars of the past season making the shortlist for the honour.
The Ballon d’Or, football’s most coveted individual award, recognises the player judged to have produced the outstanding performances over the course of the preceding season.
The 2026 edition of the prestigious award will be presented at a ceremony in London on October 26, when the winner will be announced and crowned.
Organisers have unveiled the nominees for the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or, alongside the contenders for several other major honours, including the men’s and women’s coaching awards, club prizes and other individual accolades.
Men’s Ballon d’Or — 30 nominees
The official Ballon d’Or page is the source for this category.
- Rodrigo Hernández (Rodri)
- Lionel Messi
- Kylian Mbappé
- Lamine Yamal
- Jude Bellingham
- Pau Cubarsí
- Marc Cucurella
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Luis Díaz
- Bruno Fernandes
- Erling Haaland
- Gabriel Magalhães
- Harry Kane
- Achraf Hakimi
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Marquinhos
- Sadio Mané
- Lautaro Martínez
- Nuno Mendes
- Michael Olise
- João Neves
- Willian Pacho
- Julián Quiñones
- Fabián Ruiz
- Ferran Torres
- William Saliba
- Dayot Upamecano
- Vinícius Júnior
- Vitinha
- Declan Rice
Women’s Ballon d’Or — 30 nominees
The official Ballon d’Or page gives the complete list.
- Selma Bacha
- Barbra Banda
- Klara Bühl
- 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
- Lorena
- Melvine Malard
- Manaka Matsukubo
- Vivianne Miedema
- Ewa Pajor
- Claudia Pina
- Alexia Putellas
- Wendie Renard
- Alessia Russo
- Khadija Shaw
- Momoko Tanikawa
- Caroline Weir
- Tessa Wullaert
Men’s Young Talent of the Year — 10
- Kerim Alajbegović
- Ayyoub Bouaddi
- Pau Cubarsí
- Yan Diomandé
- Lennart Karl
- Éli Junior Kroupi
- Lamine Yamal
- Johan Manzambi
- Ibrahim Maza
- Warren Zaïre-Emery
Women’s Young Talent of the Year — 5
- Veerle Buurman
- Vicky López
- Felicia Schröder
- Clara Serrajordi
- Lily Yohannes
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year — 10
- Yassine Bounou
- Thibaut Courtois
- Joan García
- Gregor Kobel
- Emiliano Martínez
- Édouard Mendy
- David Raya
- Matvey Safonov
- Unai Simón
- Vozinha
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year — 5
- Ann-Katrin Berger
- Cata Coll
- Hannah Hampton
- Lorena
- Ayaka Yamashita
Men’s Coach of the Year — 5
- Mikel Arteta
- Luis de la Fuente
- Unai Emery
- Vincent Kompany
- Luis Enrique
Women’s Coach of the Year — 5
- Jonatan Giráldez
- Andrée Jeglertz
- Nils Nielsen
- Pere Romeu
- Elena Sadiku
Men’s Club of the Year — 5
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Bodø/Glimt
- Flamengo
- Paris Saint-Germain
Women’s Club of the Year — 5
- FC Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Club América
- Manchester City
- OL Lyonnes
