The Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony is almost here, and this year’s race might be the most open one in recent memory. Thirty names. One golden ball. A brand new stage in London. If you want the full picture of the Ballon d’Or 2026 nominees, the favorites, the date, and how to watch, this guide has everything in one place.
Ballon d’Or 2026 at a Glance
Here is everything you need to know about the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in one quick table.
| Detail | Info |
| Ceremony date | Monday, 26 October 2026 |
| Venue | London Palladium, London (first time ever in London) |
| Start time | 8:00 PM London time |
| Edition | 70th |
| Defending men’s winner | Ousmane Dembélé (2025) |
| Nominees announced | 8 September 2026 |
| Voting closed | 28 September 2026 |
| Assessment period | 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026 |
| How to watch | Free on DAZN in most countries |
The Frontrunners: 5 Names That Matter Most
Thirty players made the shortlist, but this year’s award will likely come down to a handful of names. These are the five with the strongest cases.
1. Lamine Yamal, The Boy Who Inherited a Kingdom
Won La Liga with Barcelona. Won the World Cup with Spain. All before turning 19. Yamal did not just have a great season, he had the kind of season that gets talked about for decades.
He also inherited Lionel Messi’s No. 10 shirt for Spain, which tells you everything about how his country sees him. If voters reward the biggest stage, Yamal is hard to beat.
2. Kylian Mbappé, The Machine Keeps Scoring
Mbappé became the first player to win back-to-back World Cup Golden Boots. Let that sink in. His 2026 was about pure, relentless output in front of goal.
France did not lift the trophy, which hurts his case slightly. But nobody in world football scores like him right now, and voters have never ignored that.
3. Harry Kane, The Striker Who Finally Has Everything Except One Thing
Fifty goals across the Bundesliga and Champions League. England reached the World Cup semi-final with Kane leading the line. Statistically, this was his best ever season.
The knock on Kane has always been trophies. Bayern’s league title helps, but a Ballon d’Or usually needs a bigger team prize. Still, 50 goals demand respect.
4. Ousmane Dembélé, The King Trying to Keep His Crown
Defending your Ballon d’Or is brutally hard. Only a few have ever done it. Dembélé’s case rests on another electric season with PSG, the club that now dominates these shortlists.
PSG had nine nominees, a record-equalling number. When one club owns that much of the conversation, its star man always has a chance.
5. Lionel Messi, The Legend Who Refuses to Leave the Stage
Back on the shortlist after missing two straight editions. Seventeenth career nomination, one behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 18. The eight-time winner is reportedly presenting the award on stage too.
Will he win a ninth? Probably not this time. But his presence alone turns this ceremony into an event.
Read more: Top 10 Greatest Footballers of All Time
Full 30-Man Shortlist for the Ballon d’Or 2026
Here is every nominee for this year’s men’s award, announced by France Football on 8 September.
| # | Player | Club |
| 1 | Jude Bellingham | Real Madrid |
| 2 | Pau Cubarsí | Barcelona |
| 3 | Marc Cucurella | Chelsea |
| 4 | Ousmane Dembélé | PSG |
| 5 | Luis Díaz | Bayern Munich |
| 6 | Bruno Fernandes | Manchester United |
| 7 | Gabriel | Arsenal |
| 8 | Erling Haaland | Manchester City |
| 9 | Achraf Hakimi | PSG |
| 10 | Harry Kane | Bayern Munich |
| 11 | Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | PSG |
| 12 | Lamine Yamal | Barcelona |
| 13 | Sadio Mané | Al-Nassr |
| 14 | Marquinhos | PSG |
| 15 | Lautaro Martínez | Inter Milan |
| 16 | Kylian Mbappé | Real Madrid |
| 17 | Nuno Mendes | PSG |
| 18 | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami |
| 19 | João Neves | PSG |
| 20 | Michael Olise | Bayern Munich |
| 21 | Willian Pacho | PSG |
| 22 | Julián Quiñones | Al-Qadsiah |
| 23 | Declan Rice | Arsenal |
| 24 | Rodri | Manchester City |
| 25 | Fabián Ruiz | PSG |
| 26 | William Saliba | Arsenal |
| 27 | Ferran Torres | PSG |
| 28 | Dayot Upamecano | Bayern Munich |
| 29 | Vinícius Júnior | Real Madrid |
| 30 | Vitinha | PSG |
Read more: Top 10 Highest Paid Footballers 2026
Messi Is Back, Ronaldo Is Gone
This is the storyline that will dominate every conversation around this year’s ceremony. Messi returned to the shortlist after two years away. Ronaldo missed out for the fourth straight edition.
Messi’s 17th nomination puts him one behind Ronaldo’s all-time record of 18. Think about that for a second. Two players, 35 combined nominations, and the rivalry still finds new chapters.
Ronaldo’s absence is not a snub, it is just math. The voting covers August 2025 to July 2026, and the jurors picked 30 names ahead of him. Father time is the one opponent nobody beats.
Women’s Award: A New Queen Will Be Crowned
For the first time in years, the women’s Ballon d’Or has no defending champion in the race. Three-time winner Aitana Bonmatí was not nominated, which guarantees a brand new winner.
Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen, Khadija Shaw, Alessia Russo, and Vivianne Miedema headline a fascinating field. This might end up being the most unpredictable vote of the night.
How the Winner Is Decided
One hundred journalists, one from each of the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations, make up the jury. Each juror ranks ten players, with points going from 15 for first place down to 1 for tenth.
The criteria are ranked in order. First, individual performances and decisive impact. Second, team achievements and trophies won. Third, class and fair play on and off the pitch.
Voting closed on 28 September 2026. The winner already knows. The rest of us find out on 26 October.
Read more: Clubs With the Most Champions League Titles and Top 10 Richest Football Clubs in the World 2026
Honorable Mentions
A few names deserve a special shout even if they are not frontrunners. Erling Haaland keeps scoring at a rate that would win this award in almost any other era. Jude Bellingham remains Real Madrid’s heartbeat. Rodri’s influence on Manchester City is the kind voters historically love.
And keep an eye on the Kopa Trophy race for the best young player. With Yamal eligible there too, the kid might walk away with two trophies in one night.
FAQs
When is the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony?
The Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony takes place on Monday, 26 October 2026 at the London Palladium, starting at 8:00 PM London time. It is the first time the ceremony has ever been held in London.
Who are the favorites to win it this year?
The leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or 2026 are Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, and Harry Kane, with defending winner Ousmane Dembélé also in the mix. Yamal’s World Cup win with Spain gives him a strong edge.
Is Lionel Messi nominated this year?
Yes, Lionel Messi is on the 30-man shortlist for this year’s award, his 17th career nomination. He is now one nomination behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time record of 18.
Is Cristiano Ronaldo nominated this year?
No, Cristiano Ronaldo is not on the Ballon d’Or 2026 shortlist. This is the fourth consecutive edition he has missed.
How can I watch the ceremony?
The ceremony will be shown free on DAZN in most countries. In France it airs on L’Équipe TV, and in Spain on Telefónica.