The race for football’s biggest individual honours is officially on. The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees have been announced, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland and a host of global stars making the men’s shortlist, while Barbra Banda, Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Khadija Shaw and other leading women’s players feature in the women’s race. The awards also recognise the best clubs, coaches, goalkeepers and emerging young talents.
Highlights
- Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are among the men’s Ballon d’Or nominees.
- Barbra Banda and Khadija Shaw headline a strong women’s shortlist.
- Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona are among the nominated clubs.
- Luis Enrique and Mikel Arteta are in contention for the men’s Coach of the Year award.
- Young stars including Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Vicky López have also been nominated.
Main Story
Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees
The men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist features 30 players from some of the biggest clubs in world football.
The nominees are:
- Jude Bellingham
- Pau Cubarsí
- Marc Cucurella
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Luis Díaz
- Bruno Fernandes
- Gabriel
- Erling Haaland
- Achraf Hakimi
- Harry Kane
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Lamine Yamal
- Sadio Mané
- Marquinhos
- Lautaro Martínez
- Kylian Mbappé
- Nuno Mendes
- Lionel Messi
- João Neves
- Michael Olise
- Willian Pacho
- Julián Quiñones
- Declan Rice
- Rodri
- Fabián Ruiz
- William Saliba
- Ferran Torres
- Dayot Upamecano
- Vinícius Jr.
- Vitinha
Among the standout campaigns, Harry Kane registered 73 goals, while Haaland and Mbappé both finished with 58. Messi recorded 45 goals and 30 assists, while Michael Olise posted 27 goals and 35 assists.
Women’s Ballon d’Or Nominees
The women’s shortlist also features 30 of the game’s biggest names.
The nominees are:
- Selma Bacha
- Barbra Banda
- Klara Bühl
- 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 León
- Lorena
- Melvine Malard
- Manaka Matsukubo
- Vivianne Miedema
- Ewa Pajor
- Claudia Pina
- Alexia Putellas
- Wendie Renard
- Alessia Russo
- Khadija Shaw
- Momoko Tanikawa
- Caroline Weir
- Tessa Wullaert
Pajor scored 34 goals for Barcelona, while Shaw led Manchester City’s nominees with 36 goals. Pernille Harder also enjoyed a prolific campaign, scoring 35 times for Bayern Munich.
Men’s Club of the Year
Five clubs are competing for the men’s Club of the Year prize:
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Bodø/Glimt
- Flamengo
- Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain enter the race after a season that included the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, European Super Cup and Ligue 1, while Flamengo also enjoyed a trophy-filled campaign in South America.
Women’s Club of the Year
The women’s Club of the Year nominees are:
- FC Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Club América
- Manchester City
- OL Lyonnes
Barcelona’s nomination follows a campaign that brought them the Champions League, Liga, Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup.
Men’s Coach of the Year
Five coaches are in contention:
- Mikel Arteta – Arsenal
- Luis de la Fuente – Spain
- Unai Emery – Aston Villa
- Vincent Kompany – Bayern Munich
- Luis Enrique – Paris Saint-Germain
Luis Enrique’s nomination follows PSG’s trophy-heavy campaign, while Arteta is recognised after guiding Arsenal to the Premier League title.
Women’s Coach of the Year
The nominees are:
- Jonatan Giráldez – OL Lyonnes
- Andrée Jeglertz – Manchester City
- Nils Nielsen – Japan
- Pere Romeu – FC Barcelona
- Elena Sadiku – BK Häcken
Romeu led Barcelona to the Champions League, Liga, Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup, while Giráldez guided Lyonnes to three domestic trophies.
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
The Yashin Trophy nominees are:
- Yassine Bounou
- Thibaut Courtois
- Joan García
- Gregor Kobel
- Emiliano Martínez
- Édouard Mendy
- David Raya
- Matvey Safonov
- Unai Simón
- Vozinha
Bounou recorded 30 clean sheets, while Arsenal’s David Raya kept 29 and Senegal international Édouard Mendy registered 28.
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
The nominees are:
- Ann-Katrin Berger
- Cata Coll
- Hannah Hampton
- Lorena
- Ayaka Yamashita
Cata Coll stands out after helping Barcelona win multiple major trophies while recording 23 clean sheets.
Men’s Young Talent of the Year
The young-player award features:
- Kerim Alajbegović
- Ayyoub Bouaddi
- Pau Cubarsí
- Yan Diomandé
- Lennart Karl
- Éli Junior Kroupi
- Lamine Yamal
- Johan Manzambi
- Ibrahim Maza
- Warren Zaïre-Emery
Yamal is seeking another Young Talent award after previously finishing first in both 2024 and 2025.
Women’s Young Talent of the Year
The five nominees are:
- Veerle Buurman
- Vicky López
- Felicia Schröder
- Clara Serrajordi
- Lily Yohannes
Vicky López returns to the shortlist after winning the award in 2025, while Felicia Schröder enters the race following a 36-goal campaign for Häcken.
A Star-Studded Race
With established superstars, emerging talents and several trophy-winning teams represented, the 2026 Ballon d’Or race promises plenty of debate among football fans.
The nominees will now wait for the final voting process and awards ceremony, with attention likely to centre on whether established names such as Messi and Mbappé can overcome the challenge from a new generation led by Yamal.
For African football fans, the nominations also provide plenty to celebrate, with Zambia’s Barbra Banda, Senegal’s Sadio Mané and Édouard Mendy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou, and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga all represented across the different categories.
With legends chasing another chapter and a new generation knocking loudly on the door, the question is simple: who deserves to be crowned the best in the world in 2026?
