The incessant campaigning for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is underway, with nominees all taking turns explaining why they deserve to take home soccer’s most prestigious individual honor.
The shortlist for the Men’s Ballon d’Or award revealed the 30 players nominated for the prize once traded back and forth between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. What used to be a two-horse race is now a furious competition between the world’s best players at nearly every position.
