Ballon d'Or 2026 Nominees Revealed Ahead of London Ceremony

The nominees for the 70th annual Ballon d'Or awards were officially announced on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, setting the stage for football's most prestigious individual honors. The ceremony to crown the world's best male and female players will take place in London on Monday, October 26, marking the first time the event has been held outside of Paris. Organizers have confirmed the move to London is temporary, intended to honor Sir Stanley Matthews, the English winger who won the inaugural award in 1956, with the gala expected to return to Paris in 2027. The list of contenders for the men's Ballon d'Or includes numerous past winners and top performers. Reigning 2025 winner Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain and 2024 recipient Rodri of Barcelona are among the nominees. Eight-time winner Lionel Messi of Inter Miami also features, having proven his enduring skill during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Other prominent names on the men's shortlist include Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, who led the scoring charts with 61 goals across all competitions last season and had a strong World Cup campaign for England, and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, who was instrumental in Spain's World Cup triumph.