The 2026 Ballon d’Or race has begun with Lionel Messi nominated for the men’s award as he bids to win the prize for a record-extending ninth time, while England have three players among the 30 contenders.
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane are the English representatives on the main shortlist.
Paris St-Germain have the strongest presence, with nine players nominated after winning the Champions League for a second successive season. Last year’s winner, Ousmane Dembele, is also in contention to retain the award.
Messi, 39, scored eight goals as Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final, where they were beaten by Spain in July. He has since retired from international football, but those performances have secured another Ballon d’Or nomination.
The ceremony will be held in London on 26 October, a significant occasion because the award is marking its 70th anniversary. France Football created the Ballon d’Or in 1956, when England legend Sir Stanley Matthews became the first winner. Staging this year’s event in London is intended as a symbolic tribute to Matthews and the history of the award.
Spain’s World Cup success reflected in nominations
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is among six Spain players nominated after the country’s World Cup triumph.
Ferran Torres, who moved from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain during the summer, is also on the shortlist after scoring the winning goal in the final.
PSG’s nominations include Dembele and reflect the club’s continued dominance in Europe. Real Madrid forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr are also among the candidates, while Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba have been recognised.
Full men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist
- Jude Bellingham Real Madrid/England - Pau Cubarsi Barcelona/Spain - Marc Cucurella Real Madrid/Spain - Ousmane Dembele Paris St-Germain/France - Luis Diaz Bayern Munich/Colombia - Bruno Fernandes Manchester United/Portugal - Gabriel Arsenal/Brazil - Erling Haaland Manchester City/Norway - Achraf Hakimi Paris St-Germain/Morocco - Harry Kane Bayern Munich/England - Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Paris St-Germain/Georgia - Lamine Yamal Barcelona/Spain - Sadio Mane Al-Nassr/Senegal - Marquinhos Paris St-Germain/Brazil - Lautaro Martinez Inter Milan/Argentina - Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid/France - Nuno Mendes Paris St-Germain/Portugal - Lionel Messi Inter Miami/Argentina - Joao Neves Paris St-Germain/Portugal - Michael Olise Bayern Munich/France - Willian Pacho Paris St-Germain/Ecuador - Julian Quinones Al-Qadsiah/Mexico - Declan Rice Arsenal/England - Rodri Barcelona/Spain - Fabian Ruiz Paris St-Germain/Spain - William Saliba Arsenal/France - Ferran Torres Paris St-Germain/Spain - Dayot Upamecano Bayern Munich/France - Vinicius Jr Real Madrid/Brazil - Vitinha Paris St-Germain/Portugal
Yamal nominated for young-player award
Yamal is also included in the men’s Young Talent of the Year nominations.
The full list is:
- Kerim Alajbegovic Bayer Leverkusen/Bosnia-Herzegovina - Ayyoub Bouaddi Man City/France - Pau Cubarsi Barcelona/Spain - Yan Diomande Real Madrid/Ivory Coast - Lennart Karl Bayern Munich/Germany - Eli Junior Kroupi Bournemouth - Lamine Yamal Barcelona/Spain - Johan Manzambi Aston Villa/Switzerland - Ibrahim Maza Bayer Leverkusen/Algeria - Warren Zaire-Emery France/Paris St-Germain
Goalkeeper and coach nominations
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has been nominated for Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year after his performances at the 2026 World Cup.
Arsenal and Spain goalkeeper David Raya is also included.
The goalkeeper nominees are:
- Yassine Bounou Al-Hilal/Morocco - Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid - Joan Garcia Barcelona/Spain - Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund/Switzerland - Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa/Chelsea/Argentina - Edouard Mendy Al-Ahli/Senegal - David Raya Arsenal/Spain - Matvey Safonov Paris St-Germain/Russia - Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao/Spain - Vozinha Colo-Colo/Cape Verde
Five managers are competing for the Men’s Coach of the Year award: Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, Paris St-Germain manager Luis Enrique, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente and Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany.
Luis Enrique’s nomination recognises PSG’s continued success, while de la Fuente has been included following Spain’s World Cup victory.
Five clubs shortlisted
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris St-Germain have been nominated for Men’s Club of the Year.
PSG’s inclusion follows another outstanding European campaign. Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt and Flamengo have also been recognised for their performances.
With Messi pursuing a ninth title, Dembele seeking to defend his crown, England represented by Bellingham, Kane and Rice, and PSG dominating the nominations, the 2026 Ballon d’Or is set to be one of the most closely watched editions in recent years.