Ballon d'Or 2026: 30 nominees announced on September 8

The 2026 Ballon d'Or finally has a date for its first major announcement. On Tuesday September 8, between 11:00 and 16:00, the 30 footballers nominated in the men's and women's categories will be revealed on the award's official social media channels and on ballondor.com. Rodri Hernández, the 2024 winner and recently named MVP of the World Cup won by Spain, and Lamine Yamal, also a champion with La Roja, emerge as FC Barcelona's main contenders in what promises to be an especially open edition.

• The nominees announcement is set for Tuesday September 8 between 11:00 and 16:00.
• 30 candidates will be unveiled in the men's and women's categories, plus the remaining awards.
• Rodri Hernández and Lamine Yamal arrive boosted by Spain's World Cup triumph.
• Leo Messi chases a ninth Ballon d'Or after a remarkable World Cup at the age of 39.
• The awards ceremony will take place in London on October 26.

Date and time for the 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees announcement

The wait to discover the contenders for football's most prestigious individual prize is almost over. The official announcement will take place on Tuesday September 8 within a window between 11:00 and 16:00. The Ballon d'Or's official social media accounts and the ballondor.com website will serve as the broadcast channels. The same day will not only reveal the 30 candidates for the men's and women's trophies, but also the nominees for every other category: best young player, best goalkeeper, best coach, best goalscorer of the season, best club of the year and best women's player.

Rodri and Lamine Yamal, Spain's leading contenders after the World Cup

The World Cup usually shapes the Ballon d'Or race in the years it is held, and 2026 is no exception. Rodri Hernández arrives with a double credential: he already won the award in 2024 and has just been named the best player of the tournament that Spain lifted in style. Lamine Yamal, his teammate in the national team, also carries real chances after a championship in which he once again displayed extraordinary talent for his age. Both carry FC Barcelona's hopes among the favourites.

Leo Messi, Dembélé and the international competition

Argentina's World Cup performance has pushed Leo Messi back to the forefront of the conversation. At 39, the Barcelona legend produced an exceptional display for the albiceleste and is a legitimate contender for a ninth Ballon d'Or that would extend an all-time record he already owns. On the French side, Ousmane Dembélé leads a group of PSG players who retained the Champions League title, with Vitinha, Fabián Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia also in the mix. Harry Kane, Erling Haaland, Michael Olise and even Kylian Mbappé complete a list of candidates that shapes one of the most open races in recent memory.

PSG and the Champions League as a powerful argument

The Parisian club once again acts as a springboard toward the award. After winning the Champions League in 2025, PSG repeated as European champions in a season in which Dembélé has raised his level enough to become the leading candidate from a dressing room packed with stars. The project's continuity and the team's collective performance strengthen their players' options in a year of fierce competition.

Women's Ballon d'Or: FC Barcelona's dominance continues

In the women's category, FC Barcelona remains the benchmark. The club has won the last five editions of the trophy: Aitana Bonmatí holds three, including the most recent one, and Alexia Putellas has picked up two since 2021. Although Putellas began a new chapter at London City Lionesses this summer, the Catalan club's recent legacy and its ability to compete for every title keep its players as the leading candidates to extend their dominance.

The London gala and the trophy's 70th anniversary

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place on October 26 in London, a change of scenery compared to recent editions, which had used Paris as their regular home since 2019. The event also lands in a symbolic year: seven decades have passed since France Football founded the award in 1956. The combination of the anniversary, the World Cup and a candidate list without a clear frontrunner sets up a gala full of uncertainty.