Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees: Full List of Men’s and Women’s Shortlists

The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees are out, and Paris Saint-Germain leads the men’s list with nine players. Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland are all on it, but Cristiano Ronaldo is not.

The nominees were revealed on September 8. The ceremony holds on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre, the first time it is held in London. It marks the 70th anniversary of the award, and it is now organised by France Football and UEFA. Below is the full list of nominees, category by category.

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Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees

• Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
• Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
• Marc Cucurella (Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid)
• Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Luis Díaz (Colombia, Bayern München)
• Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, Manchester United)
• Gabriel (Brazil, Arsenal)
• Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Harry Kane (England, Bayern München)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
• Sadio Mané (Senegal, Al-Nassr)
• Marquinhos (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter)
• Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
• Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
• João Neves (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Michael Olise (France, Bayern München)
• Willian Pacho (Ecuador, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Julián Quiñones (Mexico, Al-Qadsiah)
• Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
• Rodri (Spain, Manchester City/Barcelona)
• Fabián Ruiz (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)
• William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
• Ferran Torres (Spain, Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)
• Dayot Upamecano (France, Bayern München)
• Vinícius Júnior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
• Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees

• Selma Bacha (France, OL Lyonnes)
• Barbra Banda (Zambia, Orlando Pride)
• Esmee Brugts (Netherlands, Barcelona)
• Klara Bühl (Germany, Bayern München)
• Mariona Caldentey (Spain, Arsenal)
• Scarlett Camberos (Mexico, Club América)
• Kerstin Casparij (Netherlands, Manchester City)
• Temwa Chawinga (Malawi, Kansas City Current)
• Cata Coll (Spain, Barcelona)
• Melchie Dumornay (Haiti, OL Lyonnes)
• Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway, Barcelona)
• Alex Greenwood (England, Manchester City)
• Patri Guijarro (Spain, Barcelona)
• Pernille Harder (Denmark, Bayern München)
• Yui Hasegawa (Japan, Manchester City)
• Rose Lavelle (United States, Gotham FC)
• Mapi León (Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
• Lorena (Brazil, Kansas City Current)
• Melvine Malard (France, Manchester United/Chelsea)
• Manaka Matsukubo (Japan, North Carolina Courage/Chelsea)
• Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands, Manchester City)
• Ewa Pajor (Poland, Barcelona)
• Clàudia Pina (Spain, Barcelona)
• Alexia Putellas (Spain, Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
• Wendie Renard (France, OL Lyonnes)
• Alessia Russo (England, Arsenal)
• Khadija Shaw (Jamaica, Manchester City)
• Momoko Tanikawa (Japan, Bayern München)
• Caroline Weir (Scotland, Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes)
• Tessa Wullaert (Belgium, Inter/Como)

Men’s Young Talent of the Year Nominees

• Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Salzburg/Juventus)
• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco, Lille/Manchester City)
• Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
• Yan Diomandé (Côte d’Ivoire, Leipzig/Real Madrid)
• Lennart Karl (Germany, Bayern München)
• Éli Junior Kroupi (France, Bournemouth)
• Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
• Johan Manzambi (Switzerland, Freiburg/Aston Villa)
• Ibrahim Maza (Algeria, Leverkusen)
• Warren Zaïre-Emery (France, Paris)

Women’s Young Talent of the Year Nominees

• Veerle Buurman (Netherlands, Chelsea)
• Vicky López (Spain, Barcelona)
• Felicia Schröder (Sweden, Häcken/Real Madrid)
• Clara Serrajordi (Spain, Barcelona)
• Lily Yohannes (United States, OL Lyonnes)

Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees

• Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal)
• Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid)
• Joan García (Spain, Barcelona)
• Gregor Kobel (Switzerland, Dortmund)
• Emiliano Martínez (Argentina, Aston Villa/Chelsea)
• Édouard Mendy (Senegal, Al-Ahli)
• David Raya (Spain, Arsenal)
• Matvey Safonov (Russia, Paris Saint-Germain)
• Unai Simón (Spain, Athletic Club)
• Vozinha (Cape Verde, Chaves/Colo-Colo)

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany, Gotham FC)
• Cata Coll (Spain, Barcelona)
• Hannah Hampton (England, Chelsea)
• Lorena (Brazil, Kansas City Current)
• Ayaka Yamashita (Japan, Manchester City)

Men’s Coach of the Year Nominees

• Mikel Arteta (Spain, Arsenal)
• Luis de la Fuente (Spain, Spain national team)
• Unai Emery (Spain, Aston Villa)
• Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Bayern München)
• Luis Enrique (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year Nominees

• Jonatan Giráldez (Spain, OL Lyonnes)
• Andrée Jeglertz (Sweden, Manchester City)
• Nils Nielsen (Denmark, Japan national team)
• Pere Romeu (Spain, Barcelona)
• Elena Sadiku (Sweden, Celtic/Häcken)

Men’s Club of the Year Nominees

• Arsenal (England)
• Bayern München (Germany)
• Bodø/Glimt (Norway)
• Flamengo (Brazil)
• Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Women’s Club of the Year Nominees

• Barcelona (Spain)
• Bayern München (Germany)
• Club América (Mexico)
• Manchester City (England)
• OL Lyonnes (France)

Africans on the 2026 Ballon d’Or Shortlist

Ten players who represent African countries are nominated across the main categories. On the men’s list, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Senegal’s Sadio Mané are in the running for the Ballon d’Or. Barbra Banda of Zambia and Temwa Chawinga of Malawi are on the women’s list.

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Africa is also strong among the goalkeepers and young players. Yassine Bounou, Édouard Mendy and Vozinha are nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year. Ayyoub Bouaddi, Yan Diomandé and Ibrahim Maza are nominated for Young Talent of the Year. No Nigerian player made the shortlist, and Victor Osimhen is not among the men’s nominees.

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The Striker of the Year and Sócrates Award nominees were not in the official announcement. We will add them when they are published.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?

The ceremony holds on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium Theatre in London. It is the first time the event is held in London.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or?

No. Ronaldo is not among the 30 men’s nominees.

Which club has the most nominees?

Paris Saint-Germain has the most. Nine of its players are on the men’s Ballon d’Or list.

How many players are nominated for the Ballon d’Or?

Thirty men and thirty women are nominated for the main Ballon d’Or awards.