2026 Ballon d’Or: Messi, Dembélé, Kane, Bellingham, Haaland Lead Nominees

The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or have been announced, with several of football’s biggest stars recognised for their performances during the 2025/26 season.

The first batch of nominations was released by the award organisers on Tuesday, September 8, as the prestigious individual prize celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Reigning winner Ousmane Dembélé features among the nominees after another impressive campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi, and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane are also on the list.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London, United Kingdom, on October 26.

2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees

1. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid, England)

2. Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona, Spain)

3. Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid, Spain)

4. Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain, France)

5. Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich, Colombia)

6. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United, Portugal)

7. Gabriel (Arsenal, Brazil)

8. Erling Haaland (Manchester City, Norway)

9. Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain, Morocco)

10. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England)

11. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain, Georgia)

12. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain)

13. Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr, Senegal)

14. Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain, Brazil)

15. Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, Argentina)

16. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France)

17. Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

18. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina)

19. João Neves (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

20. Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, France)

21. Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain, Ecuador)

22. Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah, México)

23. Declan Rice (Arsenal, England)

24. Rodri (Manchester City, Spain)

25. Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain, Spain)

26. William Saliba (Arsenal, France)

27. Ferran Torres (Barcelona, Spain)

28. Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich, France)

29. Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid, Brazil)

30. Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain, Portugal)

2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees

1. Selma Bacha (France)
2. Barbra Banda (Zambia)
3. Klara Bühl (Germany)
4. Esmee Brugts (Netherlands)
5. Mariona Caldentey (Spain)
6. Scarlett Camberos (Mexico)
7. Kerstin Casparij (Netherlands)
8. Temwa Chawinga (Malawi)
9. Cata Coll (Spain)
10. Melchie Dumornay (Haiti)
11. Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway)
12. Alex Greenwood (England)
13. Patri Guijarro (Spain)
14. Pernille Harder (Denmark)
15. Yui Hasegawa (Japan)
16. Rose Lavelle (United States)
17. Mapi León (Spain)
18. Lorena (Brazil)
19. Melvine Malard (France)
20. Manaka Matsukubo (Japan)
21. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands)
22. Ewa Pajor (Poland)
23. Claudia Pina (Spain)
24. Alexia Putellas (Spain)
25. Wendie Renard (France)
26. Alessia Russo (England)
27. Khadija Shaw (Jamaica)
28. Momoko Tanikawa (Japan)
29. Caroline Weir (Scotland)
30. Tessa Wullaert (Belgium)

2026 Men’s Young Talent of the Year Nominees

1. Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
2. Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco)
3. Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
4. Yan Diomandé (Ivory Coast)
5. Lennart Karl (Germany)
6. Éli Junior Kroupi (France)
7. Lamine Yamal (Spain)
8. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland)
9. Ibrahim Maza (Algeria)
10. Warren Zaïre-Emery (France)

2026 Women’s Young Talent of the Year Nominees

1. Veerle Buurman (Netherlands)
2. Vicky López (Spain)
3. Felicia Schröder (Sweden)
4. Clara Serrajordi (Spain)
5. Lily Yohannes (United States)