Ballon d’Or 2026: Paris Saint-Germain duo omitted despite Champions League success

Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue have been left out of the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, despite making major contributions to Paris Saint-Germain’s successful campaign last season.

The shortlist was announced by France Football in partnership with UEFA on Tuesday, with Paris Saint-Germain supplying a record number of players among the candidates. However, the absence of two of the club’s standout performers has emerged as one of the biggest surprises in the selection.

Doue enjoyed an impressive season in the French capital. He started 28 of his 41 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists for a total of 24 direct goal contributions.

The France winger also scored three goals and created two assists for the French national team.

Those figures are particularly notable because Doue was regularly competing for a place in an attack containing several high-quality options at Paris Saint-Germain. His influence was also evident in the UEFA Champions League, where he scored five goals and supplied four assists in 13 appearances.

His contribution extended beyond goals and assists. Doue covered more ground per match than any other Paris Saint-Germain player in both Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League.

That statistic underlined his commitment to the team’s approach, including pressing high up the pitch, tracking back to defend and making forward runs. Despite that all-round contribution, he was not included among the contenders for the individual award.

Barcola’s omission is also striking. The former Paris Saint-Germain player, who is now at Liverpool, scored 13 goals and registered seven assists for the French club last season.

His absence is especially notable given that Paris Saint-Germain retained their European title. The club dominated both domestically and in Europe, yet two players who played important roles in that success are missing entirely from the Ballon d’Or list.

It is difficult to explain the exclusion of two regular contributors from a squad that won the UEFA Champions League again. Their omission has therefore been highlighted as one of the most eye-catching details of the 2026 shortlist.

The list does include 10 players who represented Paris Saint-Germain last season, reflecting the club’s dominance at home and in European competition.

The selections have prompted further discussion among supporters, with fans able to debate the decision and other football news in the Kooora forums.