Ballon d’Or 2026: Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mane among 30 nominees

France Football has announced the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Senegal’s Sadio Mane the two African players included on the shortlist.

Hakimi and Mane will compete for one of football’s most prestigious individual awards alongside a group of leading names from across the world game. Their selection provides fresh recognition for African football and places both players among the sport’s most prominent figures.

The full list of nominees is:

– Achraf Hakimi – Sadio Mane – Jude Bellingham – Pau Cubarsi – Marc Cucurella – Ousmane Dembele – Luis Diaz – Bruno Fernandes – Gabriel – Erling Haaland – Harry Kane – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Lamine Yamal – Marquinhos – Lautaro Martinez – Kylian Mbappe – Nuno Mendes – Lionel Messi – Joao Neves – Michael Olise – Willian Pacho – Julian Quinones – Declan Rice – Rodri – Fabian Ruiz – William Saliba – Ferran Torres – Dayot Upamecano – Vinicius Jr. – Vitinha

The announcement means the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is officially under way. Hakimi and Mane face strong competition from players who have established themselves among the leading performers in international football.

Their inclusion is nevertheless significant for the continent. With both Morocco and Senegal represented, Africa has two candidates in contention for the award, underlining the status achieved by the two players on the global stage.

The shortlist features a mixture of established stars and younger players. Lionel Messi, who remains one of the most recognisable names in football, is included alongside players such as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Rodri and Vinicius Jr.

There is also a strong presence from the next generation, including Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsi, Lamine Yamal, Joao Neves and Michael Olise. The nominees cover a wide range of footballing backgrounds and nationalities, reflecting the international nature of the award.

Hakimi and Mane will now wait to discover whether their individual and collective performances are enough to persuade the jury. Both players have earned a place on a list containing many of the biggest names in the sport, but the competition for the trophy is expected to be intense.

Several of the 30 nominees can claim to have made a strong case through their performances, both personally and with their teams. The final decision will determine who succeeds the next Ballon d’Or winner and takes the prestigious award in 2026.