The race for the Ballon d’Or 2026 has officially started. France Football has announced the nominees for football’s biggest individual awards. The winners will be announced on October 26 at the London Palladium. The ceremony will take place in London instead of Paris as part of the award’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
This year’s awards could be very interesting because of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The voters will look at individual performances, team success and a player’s behaviour. However, the World Cup could play a big role in deciding the winners.
Ballon d’Or 2026: Harry Kane, Mbappe and Yamal Lead the Race
The men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 shortlist has many top players. However, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi are among the biggest names.
Kane had an amazing goalscoring season with Bayern Munich. Mbappe also had a great year and won the World Cup Golden Boot. Yamal has a strong case after helping Spain win the World Cup at just 19 years old.
Defending winner Dembele had another successful season with Paris Saint-Germain and won the Champions League. Messi also returned to the shortlist after another strong international tournament with Argentina.
Rodri, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland could also play a role in the final race. This makes the 2026 Ballon d’Or very difficult to predict.
Full Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Shortlist
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 Junior and Vitinha.
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Ballon d’Or Féminin 2026: Putellas, Pajor and Dumornay Among Favourites
The women’s Ballon d’Or Féminin 2026 race looks wide open. Aitana Bonmatí, who won the award for the last three years, is not on the shortlist.
Alexia Putellas is one of the biggest names to watch after another excellent season with Barcelona. Her teammate Ewa Pajor also has a strong case after finishing as the top scorer in the Women’s Champions League.
Caroline Graham Hansen also played an important role in Barcelona’s successful season. Melchie Dumornay had a very good season with OL Lyonnes, while Alessia Russo also impressed with Arsenal.
Barcelona have several players on the shortlist after winning four major trophies. This could help the club’s players in the final voting.
Full Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 Shortlist
Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Buhl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi Leon, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir and Tessa Wullaert.
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Kopa Trophy: Yamal and Cubarsi Head the Young Stars
The Kopa Trophy goes to the best young player in football. This year’s award could become another battle between Barcelona’s young stars.
Lamine Yamal is one of the biggest favourites. He has already become an important senior player and helped Spain win the World Cup.
Pau Cubarsi also has a strong case after a good season with Barcelona and an impressive World Cup.
Warren Zaïre-Emery is another top young midfielder on the list. Junior Kroupi and Yan Diomande are also exciting young attacking players.
The award could show how quickly Yamal and Cubarsi have become important players in European football.
Full Kopa Trophy Shortlist
Kerim Alajbegović, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsí, Yan Diomande, Lennart Karl, Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza and Warren Zaïre-Emery.
Yashin Trophy: Unai Simon and Martinez Among the Main Names
The Yashin Trophy also has several top goalkeepers.
Spain’s Unai Simon is one of the main contenders after helping his country win the World Cup. Emiliano Martinez also remains a big name after another strong season with Argentina.
Yassine Bounou and Edouard Mendy give the shortlist strong African representation.
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha is also on the list. He impressed during the World Cup and helped Cape Verde make an impact on the world stage.
Full Men’s Goalkeeper Shortlist
Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan Garcia, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martinez, Edouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvei Safonov, Unai Simon and Vozinha.
Coach of the Year: Arteta and Luis Enrique Face Strong Competition
The Men’s Coach of the Year award also has some big names.
Mikel Arteta has a strong case after leading Arsenal to the Premier League title. Luis de la Fuente has an even bigger international achievement after guiding Spain to the World Cup.
Luis Enrique remains another strong contender after PSG’s successful European campaign. Vincent Kompany also had a successful season with Bayern Munich.
Unai Emery completes the shortlist.
Full Men’s Coach of the Year Shortlist
Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique.
Club of the Year: PSG and Arsenal Lead the Way
The Men’s Club of the Year award includes some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal and Bayern Munich look like the main contenders. PSG’s Champions League success gives them a strong case. Arsenal can point to their Premier League title, while Bayern also had a very successful season.
Brazilian club Flamengo and Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt complete the shortlist.
Full Men’s Club of the Year Shortlist
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain.
Women’s Awards Round Out the 2026 Ceremony
The women’s awards will also have strong competition in the goalkeeper, coach and club categories.
Cata Coll is one of the main names for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after another successful season with Barcelona. Hannah Hampton and Lorena are also strong contenders.
In the coaching category, Barcelona’s Pere Romeu and OL Lyonnes boss Jonatan Giráldez have strong cases after their teams’ successful seasons.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Club América and OL Lyonnes will compete for the Women’s Club of the Year award.
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena and Ayaka Yamashita.
Women’s Coach of the Year
Jonatan Giráldez, Andrée Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu and Elena Sadiku.
Women’s Club of the Year
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club América, Manchester City and OL Lyonnes.
Why Ballon d’Or 2026 Could Be Different?
The biggest difference this year is the World Cup. The tournament gave many nominees another chance to improve their cases on football’s biggest stage.
This makes the Ballon d’Or 2026 very difficult to predict. Voters will have to compare a full club season with a few important weeks of international football.
Kane has the goals, Mbappe has the Golden Boot, Yamal has youth and World Cup glory, and Dembele has Champions League success. Messi has also continued to produce big moments despite being at an age when many players have already retired.
On October 26, the final votes will show which achievements impressed the voters the most.
What do you think? Who will win the respective awards? Let us know your prediction in the comments.
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