The Chase Begins! 2026 Ballon d'Or Nominees Announced, Football Stars React to Prestigious Award
France Football has released the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the ceremony set for October 26th in London. The article details Kylian Mbappe's personal choices for the greatest winner, features Emmanuel Petit's pick for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and covers Lamine Yamal's stance on campaigning, alongside other key contenders and category nominations.
France Football, the prestigious organizers of the Ballon d’Or award, have officially unveiled their comprehensive shortlist of nominees for the highly anticipated 2026 edition. These lists were made public on their official website, setting the stage for the award ceremony scheduled to take place in London, UK, on October 26th of this year. PSG's Ousmane Dembele holds the distinction of being the most recent winner, having claimed the prize last year by overcoming Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.
Amidst the excitement of the upcoming awards, Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe recently participated in a rapid-fire question session, shared via the official X account of the Ballon d’Or, where he selected his personal 'greatest Ballon d’Or winner' from a bracket of football legends. Mbappe navigated through various iconic players, ultimately facing the classic dilemma of Lionel Messi versus Cristiano Ronaldo, a choice he famously refused to make by taking a 'Pass Joker'. His selections included Ousmane Dembele over Karim Benzema, Rodri, and Luka Modric; Ronaldinho over Dembele; R9 (Ronaldo Delima) over Ronaldinho, Johan Cruyff, and Michel Platini; Zinedine Zidane over R9; and finally, Lionel Messi over Zizou.
Kylian Mbappe himself is a prominent contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or, alongside Barcelona’s emerging talent Lamine Yamal and Bayern Munich's prolific striker Harry Kane. Adding to the discussion, former Arsenal defensive midfielder Emmanuel Petit has voiced a strong opinion that Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is truly deserving of the award this year. Petit cited Kvaratskhelia's exceptional performances over the past two years, describing the joy he brings to watching football, as key reasons for his endorsement. Kvaratskhelia, who joined PSG from Napoli in January 2025, is indeed expected to challenge the likes of Kane, Yamal, and Mbappe for the coveted individual prize.
Another notable nominee, Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, has publicly stated his approach to the 2026 Ballon d’Or, emphasizing that he will not campaign or beg for the award. Speaking to the media, the young talent conveyed that the decision rests entirely with the voters in October. Yamal highlighted the 'unbelievable' work accomplished with both Barcelona and the national team, expressing that if he were to win, he would be profoundly grateful to his teammates for their collective efforts, underlining his belief that winning the Ballon d’Or does not depend solely on his individual lobbying.
The comprehensive list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or also includes various other categories recognizing excellence across the sport. For the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Cape Verde's Vozinha earned a notable nomination following his exploits for Cape Verde during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining a competitive field that includes Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez, Senegal’s Édouard Mendy, and eight other esteemed goalkeepers. Other categories such as Women’s Club of the Year (including Barcelona, Bayern Munich, OL Lyonnes), Men’s Club of the Year (featuring Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain), Men’s Young Talent of the Year (with Lamine Yamal once more), Women’s Young Talent, and both Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year have also seen their respective shortlists released, promising an exciting and diverse celebration of footballing achievement.