Ballon d’Or shortlist sparks questions over Oyarzabal and Barcola omissions

France Football’s 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist has reignited debate over whether the award’s published criteria are being applied consistently, with Spain captain Mikel Oyarzabal and France international Bradley Barcola among the notable omissions.

The French magazine publishes its nominees each year, but controversy has become a regular feature of the announcement. This year’s 30-player list has prompted renewed questions about the transparency of the voting process and whether performances on the pitch are always given the weight promised by the organisers.

France Football says the award is judged on three principal criteria: individual performance and decisive influence, collective success and trophies, and fair play and sporting conduct.

The first covers a player’s personal contribution, including goals and assists in major matches. The second assesses their role in helping a club or national team win official competitions during the season. The third concerns respect for the rules and the player’s conduct on and off the pitch.

However, the 2026 nominations have led to claims of a substantial gap between those principles and the final selection.

Oyarzabal absence questioned

Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo described Oyarzabal’s omission as a major injustice, while Ferran Torres’ inclusion has caused anger and disbelief in Spain.

Oyarzabal enjoyed an exceptional campaign with Real Sociedad, serving as a central figure as the club won the Copa del Rey after defeating Atletico Madrid. He scored 18 goals and provided four assists in 40 appearances, with Real Sociedad competing only in La Liga and the Copa del Rey.

His season ended with an even greater achievement as he helped Spain reach the top of the podium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Oyarzabal was Spain’s leading scorer at the tournament, with five goals, and started every match.

Despite those statistics and his importance to both club and country, he was not included among the 30 nominees.

Torres, by contrast, was named on the list. He had been Oyarzabal’s direct substitute in the Spain team and scored once at the World Cup, finding the net in the final against Argentina to secure the title for La Roja.

At domestic level, Torres made 49 appearances in all competitions for FC Barcelona, scoring 21 goals and supplying three assists. He also won La Liga with the Catalan club before moving to Paris Saint-Germain.

The contrasting cases have prompted a straightforward question: if the stated criteria justified Torres’ nomination, why did they not also apply to Oyarzabal?

That has led to wider discussion about the possible influence of reputation and media exposure. Torres played for FC Barcelona before his move to Paris Saint-Germain, placing him in the spotlight at one of football’s most heavily followed clubs. Oyarzabal, meanwhile, may have been disadvantaged by remaining loyal to Real Sociedad, away from the attention surrounding Europe’s biggest teams.

Barcola and Doue also left out

The debate has not been limited to the Spanish players. French media outlets have also criticised the decision to exclude Bradley Barcola, described in the article as a former Paris Saint-Germain player and current Liverpool player.

Barcola produced a strong season after an impressive spell with Paris Saint-Germain and a high-profile move to Liverpool. He scored 13 goals and registered seven assists in 49 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, helping the club retain the UEFA Champions League title.

He was also an important member of the France squad at the World Cup, scoring three goals and creating another.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue was also absent despite impressive figures. He started 28 of his 41 matches for the club, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists for a total of 24 direct goal contributions.

Doue added three goals and two assists for France. In the UEFA Champions League, he scored five times and supplied four assists in 13 matches.

The omissions have become more contentious because the shortlist includes players in similar positions, or other attacking roles, whose numbers and influence were considerably lower, according to the article.

One example is Sadio Mane of Al Nassr, who was selected among the nominees. Mane appeared at the World Cup and created one goal, but Senegal did not make a significant impact and were eliminated in the round of 32.

For his club, Mane scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in 36 matches. He was not Al Nassr’s leading scorer, with Cristiano Ronaldo recording more than twice as many goals, scoring 30 and adding five assists. Ronaldo was also left out of the Ballon d’Or shortlist.

The contrasting selections have left the award facing a question increasingly raised by supporters and observers: is the Ballon d’Or losing its credibility?

The answer will remain unresolved until the winner is announced at the ceremony in London on 26 October. That event will also provide an opportunity to assess whether France Football has applied the standards it repeatedly says form the basis of the award, despite the controversy surrounding the shortlist in recent years.

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