The race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or is officially underway. The 30 nominees were unveiled this Tuesday, September 8, with a lineup marked by the return of Lionel Messi and Rodri, the presence of Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal, as well as the candidacy of title-holder Ousmane Dembélé. The ceremony will take place on October 26 in London, for the first time in England.
Paris Saint-Germain, double European champions, place ten players on this list: Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Vitinha. Real Madrid, meanwhile, have four representatives: Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Marc Cucurella.
The 30 nominees
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A very open battle
Several candidates arrive with solid credentials. Harry Kane in particular enjoyed an exceptional season with Bayern Munich and England, while Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Rodri are among the most anticipated names.
Africa will also be represented with Achraf Hakimi and Sadio Mané, while Willian Pacho will fly the flag for Ecuador.
One absence is already generating a lot of talk: Cristiano Ronaldo does not appear among the 30 nominees, despite winning the Saudi Arabian championship with Al-Nassr.
The suspense has now begun. On October 26, one player alone will succeed Ousmane Dembélé on the Ballon d'Or roll of honour.
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