Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among the leading names on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist after the nominees for football’s most prestigious individual prize were revealed on Tuesday.
Kane’s inclusion comes after a prolific season for Bayern Munich and England, while Barcelona star Yamal and Real Madrid forward Mbappé have also made the cut following standout campaigns for club and country.
The three are joined by a host of the game’s biggest names on the shortlist, with the winner set to be crowned at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.
Lionel Messi has been nominated for the first time since 2023, when he scooped the award for the eighth time after his move to Inter Miami.
Paris Saint-Germain have some 10 nominees on the list, by far the most of any single club, eclipsing the seven nominees from La Liga, and four from the Premier League.
Rodri is once again on the shortlist after taking the award in 2024, joining his new Barcelona teammates Yamal and Pau Cubarsí.
The European champions are favourites for the men’s club of the year awards after winning the double, with Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo and Bodo/Glimt also nominated.
Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente and Unai Emery have been nominated for men’s coach of the year, while Vozinha has been nominated for goalkeeper of the year for his World Cup heroics.
Lamine Yamal is among 10 starlets in the running for young talent of the year.
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The complete shortlists: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, João Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Jr., and Vitinha.
Young Talent of the Year: Kerim Alajbegović, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsí, Yan Diomandé, Lennart Karl, Éli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Édouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Vozinha, Unai Simón.
Manager of the Year: Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery.
Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo, Bodo/Glimt
In the women’s category, Barcelona’s 2026 Women’s Champions League-winning squad dominated the Women’s Ballon d’Or nominations, with eight players from that team making the 30-player shortlist.
Alexia Putellas and Mapi León, both of whom have joined London City Lionesses this summer, are among the nominees along with Esmee Brugts, Clàudia Pina, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ewa Pajor, Patri Guijarro and Cata Coll.
Aitana Bonmatí, who won the Ballon d’Or in each of the last two years, hasn’t been nominated following an injury-hit campaign.
Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw is also a strong candidate to win the award following her 21-goal season that led Manchester City to the Women’s Super League title last season.
Her teammates, Vivienne Miedema, Alex Greenwood, Kerstin Casparij and Yui Hasegawa have also been nominated.
Alessia Russo, who finished third on the podium last year, has been nominated again, as has her Arsenal teammate Mariona Caldentey.
United States international Lily Yohannes is among the nominees for the Women’s Young Talent of the Year along with Barcelona duo Vicky López and Clara Serrajordi.
Real Madrid’s Felicia Schröder is also on the list, with Chelsea defender Veerle Buurman the sole representative from the WSL.
Last season’s Women’s Champions League winners Barcelona have been nominated for the Women’s Club of the Year award, as have defeated finalists Olympique Lyonnes.
Women’s Super League winners Manchester City are also on the shortlist alongside Bayern Munich and Mexican side Club América.
The Women’s Coach of the Year shortlist was also announced for the best managers in the women’s game.
Barcelona’s Pere Romeu, Olympique Lyonnes’ Jonatan Giraldez and Manchester City’s Andree Jeglertz are on the shortlist, while Nils Nielsen has been nominated for guiding Japan to an unbeaten Asia Cup triumph earlier this year.
Elena Sadiku is the only woman to be nominated for the award. She guided Danish side BK Häcken to a historic Women’s Europa Cup triumph last season and had previously led Celtic to their first-ever Scottish league title.
Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton is in line to win her second consecutive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after winning the WSL Golden Glove last season.
Man City’s Ayaka Yamashita and Barcelona’s Cata Coll have also been nominated along with NWSL duo Lorena and Ann-Katrin Berger.
Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club America, Manchester City, OL Lyonnes
Women’s Coach of the Year: Jonatan Giraldez, Andree Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu, Elena Sadiku
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, Ayaka Yamashita
Women’s Young Talent of the Year: Veerle Buurman, Vicky Lopez, Felicia Schroder, Clara Serrajordi, Lily Yohannes
Women’s Ballon d’Or: Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Buhl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi León, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir, and Tessa Wullaert.
