London stages the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony today, Monday, with the football world waiting to learn who lifts the award. The thirty nominees are revealed one after another in descending order until the main event kicks off at nine o’clock in the evening Mecca time.
The game’s biggest names are in the running. France’s Kylian Mbappé of Real Madrid, Spain’s Lamine Yamal of Barcelona and England’s Harry Kane of Bayern Munich all sit among the frontrunners to claim the prize.
For the fifth time in the award’s history, the season rather than the calendar year decides the winner. Players’ achievements count from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, capturing the campaign’s biggest competitions and events.
France Football magazine, which runs the Ballon d’Or, has revealed the rankings from thirtieth down to eleventh place.
Ten players remain in the fight for the top spots, their names to be announced at the ceremony: Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Michael Olise, Fabián Ruiz, Rodri, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal.
Ranking of the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees
|
Ranking |
Player |
Club |
National team |
|---|---|---|---|
|
29 |
Sadio Mané |
Al-Nassr |
Senegal |
|
29 |
William Saliba |
Arsenal |
France |
|
28 |
Julián Quiñones |
Al-Qadsiah |
Mexico |
|
27 |
Bruno Fernandes |
Manchester United |
Portugal |
|
26 |
Dayot Upamecano |
Bayern Munich |
France |
|
25 |
Marquinhos |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Brazil |
|
24 |
Luis Díaz |
Bayern Munich |
Colombia |
|
23 |
Nuno Mendes |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Portugal |
|
22 |
Lautaro Martínez |
Inter Milan |
Argentina |
|
21 |
Gabriel |
Arsenal |
Brazil |
|
20 |
Willian Pacho |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Ecuador |
|
19 |
João Neves |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Portugal |
|
18 |
Marc Cucurella |
Real Madrid |
Spain |
|
17 |
Vinícius Júnior |
Real Madrid |
Brazil |
|
16 |
Ferran Torres |
Barcelona – Paris Saint-Germain |
Spain |
|
15 |
Declan Rice |
Arsenal |
England |
|
14 |
Vitinha |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Portugal |
|
13 |
Achraf Hakimi |
Paris Saint-Germain |
Morocco |
|
12 |
Pau Cubarsí |
Barcelona |
Spain |
|
11 |
Jude Bellingham |
Real Madrid |
England |
|
10 |
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|
9 |
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|
8 |
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|
7 |
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|
6 |
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5 |
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4 |
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3 |
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2 |
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1 |
