Eight-time winner Lionel Messi and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal have been named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or.
France Football unveiled the nominees for various categories via its X handle on Tuesday.
Messi, 39, received his 17th career nomination while playing for Inter Miami and Argentina.
The forward, who retired from the Argentina national team in August, continues to add to a record that already includes wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Yamal, the 19-year-old Spain and Barcelona attacker, earned his third nomination after a strong campaign that included World Cup success with Spain, a Spanish league title and the Super Cup.
He posted impressive goal and assist numbers in a season that also saw him feature among the young talent contenders.
2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees Full List
- Jude Bellingham (England)
- Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
- Marc Cucurella (Spain)
- Ousmane Dembélé (France)
- Luis Díaz (Colombia)
- Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
- Gabriel (Brazil)
- Erling Haaland (Norway)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Harry Kane (England)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal)
- Marquinhos (Brazil)
- Lautaro Martínez (Argentina)
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- João Neves (Portugal)
- Michael Olise (France)
- Willian Pacho (Ecuador)
- Julián Quiñones (Mexico)
- Declan Rice (England)
- Rodri (Spain)
- Fabián Ruiz (Spain)
- William Saliba (France)
- Ferran Torres (Spain)
- Dayot Upamecano (France)
- Vinícius Jr. (Brazil)
- Vitinha (Portugal)
The award covers performances from the 2025-26 season, including the 2026 World Cup.
The ceremony will take place on October 26 in London, the first time it has been held outside Paris, to mark the 70th anniversary of the prize and honour inaugural winner Stanley Matthews.
Check out the full nominees for all categories below: https://punchng.com/live-updates-full-list-2026-ballon-dor-nominees/
Saheed is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over two years of experience covering metro, technology, sports, politics, and human-interest stories. He focuses on producing clear, engaging reports across diverse beats. Saheed’s work reflects hands-on newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate and balanced journalism.
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