England striker Harry Kane has been named the early favourite for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after the full list of 30 nominees was announced on Monday, with the award ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.
The race is widely viewed as one of the most open in recent years, with no clear frontrunner among the shortlisted players following a season in which major trophies were shared across different clubs and national teams.
Spain’s victory at the 2026 World Cup and Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph are expected to heavily influence voting, according to the announcement coverage.
Current rankings place Bayern Munich’s Kane first, based largely on his status as the top scorer across European league football. However, his campaign ended without a major team trophy after semi-final exits in both the Champions League and the World Cup.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal ranks second, buoyed by Spain’s World Cup success, though his club side were eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Lionel Messi has set a new longevity record in football’s premier individual award after being named among the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees, becoming the first player ever to span two full decades between his first and most recent nominations.
Reigning winner Ousmane Dembele of PSG sits third, carrying a Champions League medal but limited by France’s semi-final exit at the World Cup.
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé is fourth after claiming the World Cup Golden Boot, yet finished without a major team honour. Lionel Messi of Inter Miami rounds out the top five after captaining Argentina to the World Cup final.
Men’s Ballon d’Or nominees: Complete shortlists
Ballon d’Or: 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., 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
Voting will take into account individual performances, trophies won and tournament contributions, leaving voters with a complex choice among players whose cases each contain notable strengths and gaps.
