The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees have been announced, with Harry Kane, Messi, Mbappé, Yamal and Dembélé among the 30 stars shortlisted

France Football has officially announced the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with England captain Harry Kane leading a star-studded list featuring Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Ousmane Dembélé and several other leading figures in world football.

Also read: Lamine Yamal Rejects Ballon d’Or Campaign

The announcement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, has set the stage for another highly competitive battle for football’s most prestigious individual prize.

The complete list of nominees, in the order announced, is:

1. Harry Kane, England
2. Vinicius Jr, Brazil
3. Fabián Ruiz, Spain
4. Vitinha, Portugal
5. Ferran Torres, Spain
6. William Saliba, France
7. Dayot Upamecano, France
8. Bruno Fernandes, Portugal
9. Pau Cubarsí, Spain
10. Marc Cucurella, Spain
11. Jude Bellingham, England
12. Ousmane Dembélé, France
13. Luis Díaz, Colombia
14. Lamine Yamal, Spain
15. Erling Haaland, Norway
16. Gabriel Magalhães, Brazil
17. Achraf Hakimi, Morocco
18. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georgia
19. Lionel Messi, Argentina
20. Sadio Mané, Senegal
21. Marquinhos, Brazil
22. Lautaro Martínez, Argentina
23. Kylian Mbappé, France
24. Nuno Mendes, Portugal
25. João Neves, Portugal
26. Michael Olise, France
27. William Pacho, Ecuador
28. Julián Quiñones, Mexico
29. Rodri, Spain
30. Declan Rice, England

The list features a strong international spread, with players from Europe, South America, Africa and North America represented among the 30 finalists.

Defending champion Ousmane Dembélé returns to the shortlist as he seeks another landmark achievement after winning the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Messi’s inclusion is also one of the headline moments of the announcement. The Argentina captain has earned another nomination following his influential performances on the international stage.

Kane, meanwhile, enters the conversation as one of the leading contenders after another prolific campaign, while Mbappé remains among the most prominent names in the race.

Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is also on the list, further underlining his rapid rise among football’s elite.

The shortlist also contains a notable presence from Paris Saint-Germain, with several members of the French club’s squad earning nominations, including Dembélé, Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz, Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves and William Pacho.

Premier League stars are also strongly represented, with Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and William Saliba among the nominees.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees now move into the next stage of the voting process, with journalists set to determine who will ultimately succeed Dembélé as the winner.

Also read: Lamine Yamal Rejects Ballon d’Or Campaign

The breadth of the shortlist means the final race is likely to remain fiercely contested, with established superstars and emerging talents competing for one of football’s most coveted individual honours.