Ballon dOr 2026 shortlist unveiled: Dembélé, Kane, Mbappé and Messi lead 30 nominees for London ceremony
France Football magazine revealed the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or on Tuesday, with last year’s winner Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi among the top contenders. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on Oct. 26.
Dembélé, who won the award in 2025, is among nine Paris Saint-Germain players nominated, alongside Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz and Vitinha. In an interview with France Football, Dembélé said he expects the award to remain at PSG, citing teammates Kvaratskhelia, Kane and Mbappé as his top three candidates .
Mbappé, despite not winning a club trophy this season, became the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 22 goals. Kane scored 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England, securing the Bundesliga title and leading England to a World Cup semifinal. Messi, an eight-time winner, guided Argentina to the World Cup final and won Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. Spain’s Rodri, the 2024 winner, was also included after his role in Spain’s World Cup victory .
The shortlist also includes Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal, while Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modrić were omitted .
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