With the official list due to be published within hours, Sadio Mane is reportedly set to be included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
The claim, made by British journalist Ben Jacobs, has sparked debate in Senegal and across African football. A place on the shortlist would be a surprise for the 34-year-old Al-Nassr forward, who is now playing outside the European spotlight and appears to have moved beyond the peak of his career.
But while Mane is not regarded as one of the leading contenders, his case is stronger than some critics suggest. Afrik-Foot had already identified him as a possible African nominee, although it placed him well behind the main favourites.
His strongest argument is his contribution to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Mane scored twice and provided three assists in seven matches as Senegal reached the final against Morocco. Senegal won 1-0 after extra time, and Mane was named the tournament’s best player.
That award was subsequently transferred to Morocco by the CAF appeals jury in March, after the result of the final was changed on a forfeit decision. Even so, Mane’s influence during the competition extended beyond his statistics.
During a tense final, the Senegal captain persuaded his team-mates to return to the pitch after their angry departure. His intervention was viewed as an example of leadership and sporting behaviour qualities that form part of the Ballon d’Or criteria alongside individual performances and team trophies.
Mane also enjoyed a productive campaign in Saudi Arabia. He scored 10 goals and supplied six assists in 25 league appearances, helping Al-Nassr win the Saudi Pro League and end the Riyadh club’s seven-year wait for the title.
He scored in the decisive victory over Damac on the final day of the season. Although he has not reproduced the same brilliance he showed during his time at Liverpool, Mane remained an effective and influential player for his club.
There are, however, clear reasons for questioning his inclusion. Senegal’s World Cup campaign ended in the round of 32, while Mane failed to score in four appearances. He did not rediscover the influence he had demonstrated only a few months earlier at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The standard and global exposure of the Saudi Pro League are also likely to count against him when compared with players who excelled in the UEFA Champions League or Europe’s leading domestic competitions. The Ballon d’Or recognises a player’s season rather than their entire career.
The initial list of 30 is drawn up by members of the France Football and L’Equipe editorial teams, alongside former jurors and UEFA ambassadors. It is not yet the final vote conducted by international journalists.
Mane finished second in the 2022 Ballon d’Or voting behind Karim Benzema, and that reputation will inevitably influence perceptions of him. However, describing his possible nomination as a gift would be unfair. He was named the best player at the Africa Cup of Nations and won the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr.
His inclusion would be unexpected, but it would not be an outrageous decision.
Naim Beneddra has followed football since childhood and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years. He writes, analyses matches and remains passionate about telling the stories of the people who shape the sport. A committed supporter of the Fennecs, he pays particular attention to Algerian football.