The full shortlists for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or awards have been unveiled.
Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain boast no fewer than 10 of the 30 players on the men’s shortlist, including reigning champion Ousmane Dembélé and midfielder Vitinha, who ended last season’s running in third.
Lionel Messi features on the shortlist as he seeks to win his ninth Ballon d’Or, while 2024 winner Rodri is back in the picture after a Golden Ball-winning summer at the World Cup with Spain.
Here are all the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Men’s 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona |
| Marc Cucurella | Chelsea/Real Madrid |
| Ousmane Dembélé | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Luis Díaz | Bayern Munich |
| Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United |
| Gabriel | Arsenal |
| Erling Haaland | Manchester City |
| Achraf Hakimi | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Harry Kane | Bayern Munich |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| Sadio Mané | Al Nassr |
| Marquinhos | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan |
| Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid |
| Nuno Mendes | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Lionel Messi | Inter Miami |
| João Neves | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Michael Olise | Bayern Munich |
| Willian Pacho | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Julián Quiñones | Al Qadsiah |
| Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| Rodri | Manchester City/Barcelona |
| Fabián Ruiz | Paris Saint-Germain |
| William Saliba | Arsenal |
| Ferran Torres | Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain |
| Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich |
| Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid |
| Vitinha | Paris Saint-Germain |
The race for this year’s Ballon d’Or is as open as it ever has been, with a number of big names chasing immortality.
Among the favorites are the usual suspects like Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal. Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane has been backed for a high finish after a stunning season yielded 73 goals for club and country.
Yamal is one of three Barcelona nominees, alongside center back Pau Cubarsí and new signing Rodri, who joined from Manchester City in the summer. Ferran Torres is nominated thanks to his exploits with Barcelona but has since signed for PSG to become one of 10 representatives of the French champions.
Ousmane Dembélé is looking to retain his prize but has backed teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as PSG’s best hope this year.
Marc Cucurella takes Real Madrid’s number of nominees up to four, joining Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham on the 30-strong list.
Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi forced his way into the conversation with some stellar performances at the World Cup with Argentina, but there is no space on the shortlist for long-time career rival Cristiano Ronaldo. There is, however, spot for another Al Nassr forward, Sadio Mané.
It is Messi’s 17th nomination for the Ballon d’Or, one behind Ronaldo’s record of 18.
Women’s 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Selma Bacha | OL Lyonnes |
| Barbra Banda | Orlando Pride |
| Klara Bühl | Bayern Munich |
| Esmee Brugts | Barcelona |
| Mariona Caldentey | Arsenal |
| Scarlett Camberos | Club América |
| Kerstin Casparij | Manchester City |
| Temwa Chawinga | Kansas City Current |
| Cata Coll | Barcelona |
| Melchie Dumornay | OL Lyonnes |
| Caroline Graham Hansen | Barcelona |
| Alex Greenwood | Manchester City |
| Patri Guijarro | Barcelona |
| Pernille Harder | Bayern Munich |
| Yui Hasegawa | Manchester City |
| Rose Lavelle | Gotham FC |
| Mapi León | Barcelona/London City Lionesses |
| Lorena | Kansas City Current |
| Melvine Malard | Manchester United/Chelsea |
| Manaka Matsukubo | North Carolina Courage/Chelsea |
| Vivianne Miedema | Manchester City |
| Ewa Pajor | Barcelona |
| Clàudia Pina | Barcelona |
| Alexia Putellas | Barcelona/London City Lionesses |
| Wendie Renard | OL Lyonnes |
| Alessia Russo | Arsenal |
| Khadija Shaw | Manchester City |
| Momoko Tanikawa | Bayern Munich |
| Caroline Weir | Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes |
| Tessa Wullaert | Inter Milan/Como |
Injuries have robbed Aitana Bonmatí of the chance to win a fourth successive Ballon d’Or Féminin, but her absence from the shortlist opens the door for a new winner—perhaps just the fifth different player to ever win the prize.
Alexia Putellas is among the favorites but would not be bringing the trophy back to Barcelona, having joined London City Lionesses during the summer. Instead Blaugrana striker Ewa Pajor is likely the Catalan side’s best hope, but Patri Guijarro and Caroline Graham Hansen will hope to finish towards the top of the standings as well.
OL Lyonnes star Melchie Dumornay is also expected to be in the running alongside the prolific duo of Pernille Harder and Khadija Shaw, of Bayern Munich and Manchester City, respectively.
The NWSL is represented by back-to-back MVP Temwa Chawinga, Kansas City Current teammate Lorena, Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda.
2026 Kopa Trophy Nominees
Two-time winner and reigning champion, Lamine Yamal is in the running for a third straight Kopa Trophy, and will be competing against Barcelona and Spain teammate Pau Cubarsí, among others.
There are nominations for Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande, Man City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery and plenty of others in a star-studded shortlist.
Barcelona also have two nominees for the Women’s Kopa Trophy. Vicky López, last year’s winner, is joined on the shortlist by midfield sensation Clara Serrajordi, with Chelsea’s Veerle Buurman, Real Madrid’s Felicia Schröder and USWNT star Lily Yohannes of OL Lyonnes rounding out the top five.
• Ballon d’Or 2026: Full List of Kopa Trophy Nominees
2026 Yashin Trophy Nominees
A total of 10 male players are up for the Yashin Trophy, named after the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d’Or, Lev Yashin.
Arsenal’s David Raya, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Barcelona’s Joan García have emerged as the early favorites to take the crown away from Gianluigi Donnarumma, who won in 2025 but was not nominated this time around.
The three finalists for last season’s Women’s Yashin Trophy—Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton, Gotham FC’s Ann-Katrin Berger and Barcelona’s Cata Coll—are all back up for the award.
• Ballon d’Or 2026: Full List of Yashin Trophy Nominees
2026 Coach of the Year Nominees
Spain nearly boasts a clean sweep of the men’s nominees. Alongside national team manager Luis de la Fuente, there are nominations for Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery and PSG’s Luis Enrique.
There is more variety on the Women’s Coach of the Year shortlist. OL Lyonnes’ Jonatan Giráldez, Manchester City’s Andrée Jeglertz, Barcelona’s Pere Romeu and BK Häcken’s Elena Sadiku feature alongside former Japan boss Nils Nielsen.
• Ballon d’Or 2026: Full List of Coach of the Year Nominees
2026 Club of the Year Nominees
Some serious heavyweights are competing for the 2026 Club of the Year award.
European champions PSG won this award last year and are now up against Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Flamengo and Bodø/Glimt in pursuit of a second consecutive triumph.
For the Women’s Club of the Year award, Barcelona have to be seen as favorites, but they face fierce competition from Bayern Munich, Man City, OL Lyonnes and Club América.
• Ballon d’Or 2026: Full List of Club of the Year Nominees
When Is the 2026 Ballon d’Or Ceremony?
For the first time since 2019, the Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held away from the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The festivities are heading to London, England, to honor inaugural Ballon d’Or winner Stanley Matthews.
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