2026 Ballon d’Or: Lionel Messi named among 30 nominees as Paris Saint-Germain dominate shortlist

Lionel Messi has been included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Paris Saint-Germain supplying 10 players after winning the Champions League in each of the past two seasons.

The Inter Miami captain is on the shortlist for a record-extending 17th time. Messi has won the award eight times, more than any other player.

France Football announced the nominees ahead of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, which will take place in London on Monday, 26 October.

Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr, has been left off the shortlist for the second consecutive year. Mohamed Salah is also absent, despite finishing fourth in the 2025 voting. Salah plays for Turkish club Trabzonspor and English side Liverpool.

The Saudi Pro League is represented by Al-Qadsiah striker Julian Quinones, the league’s leading goalscorer, while Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane is included after helping Senegal win the Africa Cup of Nations.

The full list of nominees is:

– Jude Bellingham – England – Real Madrid – Pau Cubarsi – Spain – Barcelona – Marc Cucurella – Spain – Real Madrid and Chelsea – Ousmane Dembele – France – Paris Saint-Germain – Luis Diaz – Colombia – Bayern Munich – Bruno Fernandes – Portugal – Manchester United – Erling Haaland – Norway – Manchester City – Gabriel Magalhaes – Brazil – Arsenal – Harry Kane – England – Bayern Munich – Achraf Hakimi – Morocco – Paris Saint-Germain – Lamine Yamal – Spain – Barcelona – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Georgia – Paris Saint-Germain – Marquinhos – Brazil – Paris Saint-Germain – Sadio Mane – Senegal – Al-Nassr – Lautaro Martinez – Argentina – Inter Milan – Kylian Mbappe – France – Real Madrid – Nuno Mendes – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Lionel Messi – Argentina – Inter Miami – Michael Olise – France – Bayern Munich – Joao Neves – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Willian Pacho – Ecuador – Paris Saint-Germain – Julian Quinones – Mexico – Al-Qadsiah – Declan Rice – England – Arsenal – Rodri – Spain – Manchester City and Barcelona – William Saliba – France – Arsenal – Dayot Upamecano – France – Bayern Munich – Vitinha – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Vinicius Junior – Brazil – Real Madrid – Fabian Ruiz – Portugal – Paris Saint-Germain – Ferran Torres – Spain – Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona

The nominees were selected on performances recorded between 3 August 2025 and 19 July 2026. That period covers the start of the 2025-26 season through to the 2026 World Cup final, where Spain won the tournament.

It also includes matches from the Africa Cup of Nations and the final stage of the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Players are assessed against three main criteria: individual performances, including decisive and influential displays; team performances and trophies won; and integrity and fair play.

How the voting works

The Ballon d’Or is decided by an international jury of specialist football journalists. There is one representative from each of the top 100 nations in the FIFA men’s rankings for the men’s award, while the women’s award includes representatives from the top 50 nations.

The FIFA rankings in force when the shortlists were published on 8 September 2026 will be used.

Each juror selects their top 10 players, with points awarded as follows: 15 for first place, followed by 12, 10, eight, seven, five, four, three, two and one.

The player with the highest overall score wins the Ballon d’Or. If two or more players finish level, the winner is decided by the number of first-place votes. If the tie remains, second-place votes are considered, followed by third-place votes and so on.