The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards have been announced, with some of the biggest names in world football included in the race for the prestigious individual prizes.

The awards ceremony will be held in London on October 26, 2026, marking the first time the Ballon d’Or event will take place in the British capital. The ceremony will honour outstanding performances from the 2025/26 football season.

Among the leading names nominated for the men’s award are reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé, eight-time winner Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane.

One of the biggest talking points from the announcement is the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has not been included among the 30 nominees. Meanwhile, Messi has returned to the shortlist after missing the previous two editions of the award.

Strong PSG Presence

Paris Saint-Germain have a particularly strong representation, with 10 players named among the men’s nominees following the club’s successful 2025/26 campaign.

Other notable nominees include Jude Bellingham, Bruno Fernandes, Achraf Hakimi, Lautaro Martínez, Rodri, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Michael Olise and Ghanaian defender Willian Pacho.

Women’s Ballon d’Or

The women’s Ballon d’Or also features a strong field of 30 nominees, including Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ewa Pajor, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Wendie Renard.

However, reigning champion Aitana Bonmatí will not be able to defend her title after an injury ruled her out of contention.

Her absence leaves the women’s award wide open, with several leading stars now hoping to claim the prestigious honour.

Other awards up for grabs include the Kopa Trophy, Yashin Trophy, Coach of the Year and Club of the Year awards.

All winners will be announced at the star-studded ceremony in London on October 26, 2026, with football fans around the world eagerly awaiting to see who will be crowned the best players of the 2025/26 season.