Ballon d'Or Shocker: African Stars Snubbed, Messi Among Elite on 2026 Shortlist!
The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominations have been revealed, with Nigerian stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman notably absent from the 30-man shortlist. The prestigious ceremony, set to honor Sir Stanley Matthews, will be held in London and features top contenders like defending champion Ousmane Dembélé, Rodri, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland. The women's award and other categories were also announced, setting the stage for a star-studded event.
The highly anticipated shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has been unveiled, featuring 30 of the most celebrated names in men’s world football. Notably absent from this prestigious list are Nigeria’s stars, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, who have been overlooked for this year’s award.
The nominations set the stage for the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in London on Monday, October 26, 2026. This marks a significant moment as it will be the first time the English capital hosts the esteemed event. The 70th edition will also pay tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the legendary player who became the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner seven decades ago.
Among the formidable contenders are several global football icons. Ousmane Dembélé, the defending champion who secured the men’s award last year, has once again been nominated following an impressive campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. Rodri, the 2024 winner, also finds himself in contention after his pivotal role in Spain’s World Cup triumph. However, his aspirations for reclaiming the award will face stiff competition from emerging talents like Lamine Yamal, established goal-scorers such as Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé, and Michael Olise.
Lionel Messi, a perennial favourite, has earned another nomination after his stellar performances during Argentina’s World Cup campaign. The Inter Miami forward, who holds the record for the most Ballon d'Or awards, will be vying for a potential ninth trophy. However, Argentina’s defeat in the final may have marginally impacted his chances.
Beyond the men's award, a star-studded 30-player shortlist has also been announced for the women’s award. This list includes Barcelona’s talented trio of Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, and Alexia Putellas, alongside Arsenal forward Alessia Russo, Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw, and Bayern Munich forward Pernille Harder.
In addition to the main awards, several other categories have been revealed, including Young Talent, Coach, Goalkeeper, and Club of the Year. For the men’s Club of the Year award, prominent teams like Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain are among the distinguished nominees.
The full list of the 30 nominees for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or is as follows:
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