Even if there are always some “forgotten”, the list of 30 players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or was much easier to predict than the identity of the winner. We will have to wait for the ceremony organized in London on October 26 to find out the winner of the year. In the meantime, the 100 voters (one journalist for each of the top 100 countries in the Fifa ranking) will be able to establish their top 10 based on the 30 named by the magazine France Footballthe newspaper The Team
as well as Luis Figo and Fabio Capello.
All the big favorites for the 2026 edition are there: the self-proclaimed favorite Kylian Mbappé, author of 44 goals with Real Madrid and top scorer of the 2026 World Cup, Rodri, captain of the world champions and elected best player of the tournament, the Bayern cracks Michael Olise and Harry Kane (who both reached the semi-finals of the World Cup), or even Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, best Champions League player last season, and “BO” record holder Lionel Messi.
In addition to Rodri and Lamine Yamal, the Spanish 2026 world champions, crowned on July 18 against Argentina (1-0, ap), are represented by Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Fabian Ruiz and Ferran Torres. The Abiceleste only counts on Lautaro Martinez in addition to the legend Messi. We find the leaders of PSG, double winner of the Champions League: Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, Achraf Hakimi, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, the title holder Ousmane Dembélé and therefore Fabian Ruiz and “Kvara”. Désiré Doué is absent from the nominees, as is Bradley Barcola.
Mexican nominated for Ballon d’Or
The other football stars are in the list, like Premier League top scorer Erling Haaland and the two other Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, the Englishman having been one of the best players of the World Cup with his 7 goals.
The English champions with Arsenal William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice are in the spotlight, while the English midfielder obviously led the Three Lions to 3rd place in the World Cup 26. Bruno Fernandes, voted best player in the Premier League with Manchester United. Two other Bayern players are highlighted: Dayot Upamecano, rock of the Munich team and the Blues, as well as Colombian winger Luis Diaz.
Finally, France Football and the rest of the jury rewarded the brilliance of Mexican winger Julian Quinones at the 2026 World Cup. He is credited with four goals at the World Cup, he the crack of the Saudi Pro League with Al-Qadsiah. And to reward Senegal, winner of the African Cup on the field before being dismissed, we find Sadio Mané.
