Kane, Yamal and Mbappe lead star-studded 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist

Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe are among the leading names on the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the winner set to be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October.

Kane is regarded as one of the leading contenders after scoring 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England last season. The England captain’s remarkable campaign has made him the bookmakers’ favourite and placed him in contention to become the first Englishman to win the award since Michael Owen in 2001.

He faces significant competition from Yamal and Mbappe, who both produced outstanding seasons for club and country. Yamal is also one of the 10 nominees for Young Talent of the Year, while Mbappe set a new World Cup scoring record by scoring 10 goals for France.

Lionel Messi has returned to the Ballon d’Or shortlist for the first time since winning the award for an eighth time in 2023. The Inter Miami forward impressed during the World Cup with Argentina, but there is no place on the list for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Defending champion Ousmane Dembele has also been nominated after another successful campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. The French club have the largest representation, with 10 players on the shortlist, including Vitinha, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes.

Rodri is back among the nominees after winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024. The Spain midfielder claimed the World Cup Golden Ball and is now a Barcelona player, joining Yamal and Pau Cubarsi among the nominees from the Catalan club.

African football is represented in several of the leading individual categories. Senegal’s Sadio Mane and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi are included in the men’s Ballon d’Or list. Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy are nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year, while Cape Verde’s Vozinha is recognised after his performances at the World Cup.

Premier League players on the main shortlist include Declan Rice, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland and William Saliba. Fernandes has been nominated after setting a new Premier League assist record, registering 21 assists last season.

Arsenal have been recognised in both the club and coaching categories after winning their first Premier League title in 22 years and reaching the Champions League final. Their manager, Mikel Arteta, is nominated for Coach of the Year alongside Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique, Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente.

Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo and Bodo/Glimt are the five candidates for Men’s Club of the Year.

The Goalkeeper of the Year shortlist includes David Raya, Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martinez, Yassine Bounou and Vozinha, who stood out at the World Cup.

Full 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlists

Men’s Ballon d’Or: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembele, Luis Diaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mane, 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.

Young Talent of the Year: Kerim Alajbegovic, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsi, Yan Diomande, Lennart Karl, Eli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaire-Emery.

Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan Garcia, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martinez, Edouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Vozinha, Unai Simon.

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.