Ballon d'Or 2026: 30 nominees announced, six Spaniards, Messi returns and no Cristiano or Pedri

The race to succeed Rodri on the Ballon d'Or honours board now has names attached. France Football has published its 30-man shortlist for the prize that will be awarded on 26 October 2026, a selection defined by a strong Spanish presence, the return of Lionel Messi to the contenders and the eye-catching omissions of Cristiano Ronaldo, Pedri and Raphinha. The ceremony itself will move away from Paris and travel to London as the award marks its 70th anniversary.

• Six Spanish players are in contention: Cubarsí, Cucurella, Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz and Ferran Torres.
• Leo Messi returns to the list after being absent from the last two editions.
• Pedri, Raphinha, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah miss out on the 30-man shortlist.
• London will host the gala for the first time, honouring Sir Stanley Matthews and the award's 70th anniversary.

What Messi's return means for the 2026 Ballon d'Or race

Lionel Messi's inclusion is the headline story of this edition. The Argentine superstar had not featured among the favourites since lifting his eighth trophy in 2023, the latest in a collection spanning 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Now he is back in the group after leading Argentina all the way to the World Cup final, where Spain proved too strong.

His candidacy comes in Inter Miami colours, after several seasons in MLS. At 38, the Argentine once again shares a stage with the best players on the planet, chasing an award he has won more times than anyone else.

Pedri, Raphinha, Cristiano Ronaldo and Salah: the big omissions

The list drawn up by the French magazine leaves out two names with enormous weight in the modern game. Pedri and Raphinha, La Liga and Supercopa champions with Barcelona, are not among the 30 candidates. The Canary Islands midfielder added the World Cup with Spain to his trophy cabinet this year, which makes his absence one of the most talked-about decisions.

Cristiano Ronaldo is also missing, a five-time winner of the award —2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017— who has not been among the favourites since 2022. Other notable absentees include Mohamed Salah, fourth in last year's voting, and the young Désiré Doué, who won every trophy available this season with PSG.

Lamine Yamal and Spain's strong presence in the Ballon d'Or

Spain contributes six candidates, the largest contingent of any nation on the list. Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí represent Barcelona from the class of 2007, while Marc Cucurella cements a standout year at Real Madrid. They are joined by Rodri Hernández, now at Barcelona, and two figures from PSG's project: Fabián Ruiz and Ferran Torres. All six played a part in Spain's World Cup triumph.

Real Madrid, PSG and Bayern: the clubs with the most nominees

PSG dominates the shortlist by a wide margin. Names such as Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Vitinha underline the depth of the French champions, who lifted the Champions League in 2025.

Real Madrid keeps three of its biggest stars in the running: Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius. Bayern Munich provides Harry Kane, Luis Díaz, Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano, while Arsenal places Gabriel Magalhães, Declan Rice and William Saliba. The Premier League is further represented by Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United and Erling Haaland of Manchester City.

London hosts the Ballon d'Or gala for the first time in 70 years

The 2026 Ballon d'Or breaks new ground with its venue. For the first time in seven decades, the ceremony will be held outside Paris: London takes over as the stage in tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the English legend who claimed the first Ballon d'Or in 1956. The British capital therefore hosts the edition celebrating the prize's 70th anniversary.

Full list of the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
• Pau Cubarsí (FC Barcelona)
• Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid)
• Ousmane Dembélé (PSG)
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
• Luis Díaz (Bayern)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
• Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal)
• Harry Kane (Bayern)
• Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG)
• Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)
• Sadio Mané (Al Nassr)
• Marquinhos (PSG)
• Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
• Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid)
• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
• Nuno Mendes (PSG)
• Michael Olise (Bayern)
• Joao Neves (PSG)
• Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadisiyah)
• Willian Pacho (PSG)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal)
• Rodri Hernández (FC Barcelona)
• Ferran Torres (PSG)
• Fabián Ruiz (PSG)
• Dayot Upamecano (Bayern)
• William Saliba (Arsenal)
• Vinicius (Real Madrid)
• Vitinha (PSG)