All 2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees Revealed
Football’s biggest stars now know who they are up against as the full list of candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards takes shape.
The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is officially underway, with France Football revealing the nominees across the different categories on Tuesday, September 8. The announcement brings together the players, coaches and teams that made the biggest impact over the past season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This year's ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, 2026 in London, marking the first time the English capital has hosted the prestigious event. The location carries additional significance as the Ballon d'Or celebrates its 70th anniversary, seven decades after England legend Sir Stanley Matthews became the award's inaugural winner in 1956.
In the men's category, Ousmane Dembélé will attempt to defend the award he captured in 2025, while a new winner will be crowned in the women's category following Aitana Bonmatí's triumph last year. But the two main prizes are only part of a ceremony that will also honor the best young players, goalkeepers, coaches and teams in world football.
2026 Men's Ballon d'Or Nominees
The 30-man shortlist features some of football's biggest names, including Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Vinícius Júnior and defending champion Ousmane Dembélé.
- Jude Bellingham — Real Madrid
- Pau Cubarsí — Barcelona
- Ousmane Dembélé — PSG
- Marc Cucurella — Real Madrid
- Luis Díaz — Bayern Munich
- Bruno Fernandes — Manchester United
- Gabriel Magalhães — Arsenal
- Erling Haaland — Manchester City
- Harry Kane — Bayern Munich
- Achraf Hakimi — PSG
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — PSG
- Lamine Yamal — Barcelona
- Sadio Mané — Al Nassr
- Marquinhos — PSG
- Lautaro Martínez — Inter Milan
- Kylian Mbappé — Real Madrid
- Nuno Mendes — PSG
- Lionel Messi — Inter Miami
- João Neves — PSG
- Michael Olise — Bayern Munich
- Willian Pacho — PSG
- Julián Quiñones — Al Qadsiah
- Declan Rice — Arsenal
- Rodri — Barcelona
- Fabián Ruiz — PSG
- William Saliba — Arsenal
- Ferran Torres — PSG
- Dayot Upamecano — Bayern Munich
- Vinícius Júnior — Real Madrid
- Vitinha — PSG
2026 Women's Ballon d'Or Nominees
The women's shortlist features 30 candidates, with Barcelona, Manchester City, OL Lyonnes, Arsenal and Bayern Munich heavily represented among the contenders.
- 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 — London City Lionesses
- Lorena — Kansas City Current
- Melvine Malard — Chelsea
- Manaka Matsukubo — Chelsea
- Vivianne Miedema — Manchester City
- Ewa Pajor — Barcelona
- Claudia Pina — Barcelona
- Alexia Putellas — London City Lionesses
- Wendie Renard — OL Lyonnes
- Alessia Russo — Arsenal
- Khadija Shaw — Manchester City
- Momoko Tanikawa — Bayern Munich
- Caroline Weir — OL Lyonnes
- Tessa Wullaert — Como
2026 Men's Young Player of the Year Nominees
Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí headline a talented group featuring some of the brightest young players in world football.
- Ayyoub Bouaddi — Manchester City
- Kerim Alajbegovic — Juventus
- Yan Diomandé — Real Madrid
- Pau Cubarsí — Barcelona
- Johan Manzambi — Aston Villa
- Lamine Yamal — Barcelona
- Eli Junior Kroupi — Bournemouth
- Ibrahim Maza — Bayer Leverkusen
- Warren Zaïre-Emery — PSG
- Lennart Karl — Bayern Munich
2026 Women's Young Player of the Year Nominees
- Veerle Buurman — Chelsea
- Vicky López — Barcelona
- Felicia Schröder — Real Madrid
- Clara Serrajordi — Barcelona
- Lily Yohannes — OL Lyonnes
2026 Men's Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees
The goalkeeper shortlist includes several established stars, with Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martínez, David Raya, Unai Simón and Joan García among the candidates.
- Yassine Bounou — Al Hilal
- Joan García — Barcelona
- Gregor Kobel — Borussia Dortmund
- Emiliano Martínez — Chelsea
- Edouard Mendy — Al Ahli
- David Raya — Arsenal
- Unai Simón — Athletic Bilbao
- Vozinha — Colo Colo
- Matvey Safonov — PSG
- Thibaut Courtois — Real Madrid
2026 Women's Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees
- Hannah Hampton — Chelsea
- Lorena — Kansas City Current
- Ayaka Yamashita — Manchester City
- Cata Coll — Barcelona
- Ann-Katrin Berger — Gotham FC
2026 Men's Coach of the Year Nominees
- Mikel Arteta — Arsenal
- Luis de la Fuente — Spain
- Unai Emery — Aston Villa
- Vincent Kompany — Bayern Munich
- Luis Enrique — PSG
2026 Women's Coach of the Year Nominees
- Jonatan Giráldez — OL Lyonnes
- Andrée Jeglertz — Manchester City
- Nils Nielsen — Japan
- Pere Romeu — Barcelona
- Elena Sadiku — BK Häcken
2026 Men's Team of the Year Nominees
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Bodø/Glimt
- Flamengo
- PSG
2026 Women's Team of the Year Nominees
- FC Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Club América
- Manchester City
- Olympique Lyonnais
With all 30 names now revealed for the men's Ballon d'Or and the other categories taking shape, attention turns toward October 26 in London, when football's biggest individual prizes will be handed out.
