PSG Leads 2026 Ballon d'Or Nominations with Nine Players on the Shortlist

Paris Saint-Germain Dominates 2026 Ballon d'Or Nominations

The shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or was unveiled on September 8 by France Football, highlighting Paris Saint-Germain's overwhelming presence with nine players included. This follows their victorious 2025-26 season where they secured back-to-back European titles under coach Luis Enrique.

Among the nominees, Ousmane Dembele, last year's men's winner, aims to defend his title but faces stiff competition, notably from PSG teammate Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Ferran Torres, celebrated for scoring Spain's winning goal in the World Cup final and recently transferred from Barcelona to PSG, earned his first nomination this year.

Spain leads all nations with six players nominated, including Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d'Or and the World Cup Golden Ball. Rodri recently moved from Manchester City to Barcelona, joining Lamine Yamal, a returning nominee who was runner-up to Dembele last season.

Lionel Messi also made the list after another standout World Cup, though his chances for a ninth trophy may have diminished following Argentina's loss in the final.

2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Nominees

• Jude Bellingham: Real Madrid / England (4 nominations)
• Pau Cubarsi: Barcelona / Spain (1)
• Marc Cucurella: Chelsea/Real Madrid / Spain (1)
• Ousmane Dembele: Paris Saint-Germain / France (2)
• Luis Diaz: Bayern Munich / Colombia (2)
• Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United / Portugal (2)
• Erling Haaland: Manchester City / Norway (6)
• Gabriel: Arsenal / Brazil (1)
• Harry Kane: Bayern Munich / England (8)
• Achraf Hakimi: Paris Saint-Germain / Morocco (2)
• Lamine Yamal: Barcelona / Spain (3)
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: Paris Saint-Germain / Georgia (3)
• Marquinhos: Paris Saint-Germain / Brazil (2)
• Sadio Mane: Al Nassr / Senegal (5)
• Lisandro Martinez: Inter Milan / Argentina (5)
• Kylian Mbappe: Real Madrid / France (9)
• Nuno Mendes: Paris Saint-Germain / Portugal (2)
• Lionel Messi: Inter Miami / Argentina (17)
• Michael Olise: Bayern Munich / France (2)
• Joao Neves: Paris Saint-Germain / Portugal (2)
• William Pacho: Paris Saint-Germain / Ecuador (1)
• Julian Quinones: Al-Qadsiah / Mexico (1)
• Declan Rice: Arsenal / England (3)
• Rodri: Man City/Barcelona / Spain (3)
• Fabian Ruiz: Paris Saint-Germain / Spain (2)
• Ferran Torres: Barcelona/PSG / Spain (1)
• William Saliba: Arsenal / France (2)
• Dayot Upamecano: Bayern Munich / France (1)
• Vinicius Junior: Real Madrid / Brazil (5)
• Vitinha: Paris Saint-Germain / Portugal (3)

2026 Ballon d'Or Feminin Nominees

• Selma Bacha: OL Lyonnes / France (2 nominations)
• Barbra Banda: Orlando Pride / Zambia (3)
• Klara Buhl: Bayern Munich / Germany (2)
• Esmee Brugts: Barcelona / Netherlands (1)
• Mariona Caldentey: Arsenal / Spain (3)
• Scarlett Camberos: Club America / Mexico (1)
• Kerstin Casparij: Manchester City / Netherlands (1)
• Temwa Chawinga: Kansas City Current / Malawi (2)
• Cata Coll: Barcelona / Spain (1)
• Melchie Dumornay: OL Lyonnes / Haiti (2)
• Caroline Graham Hansen: Barcelona / Norway (3)
• Alex Greenwood: Manchester City / England (1)
• Patri Guijarro: Barcelona / Spain (4)
• Pernille Harder: Bayern Munich / Denmark (5)
• Yui Hasegawa: Manchester City / Japan (3)
• Rose Lavelle: Gotham City / USWNT (2)
• Mapi Leon: Barcelona/London City Lionesses / Spain (2)
• Lorena: Kansas City Current / Brazil (1)
• Melvine Malard: Manchester United/Chelsea / France (1)
• Manaka Matsukubo: North Carolina Courage/Chelsea / Japan (1)
• Ewa Pajor: Barcelona / Poland (4)
• Vivianne Miedema: Manchester City / Netherlands (4)
• Claudia Pina: Barcelona / Spain (2)
• Alexia Putellas: Barcelona/London City Lionesses (5)
• Alessia Russo: Arsenal / England (2)
• Momoko Tanikawa: Bayern Munich / Japan (1)
• Wendie Renard: OL Lyonnes / France (6)
• Khadija Shaw: Manchester City / Jamaica (3)
• Caroline Weir: Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes / Scotland (2)
• Tessa Wullaert: Inter Milan/Como / Belgium (1)

Men's Young Talent of the Year Nominees

• Kerim Alajbegovic (Salzburg/Juventus / Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille/Manchester City / Morocco)
• Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona / Spain)
• Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig/Real Madrid / Ivory Coast)
• Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich / Germany)
• Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth)
• Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)
• Johan Manzambi (Freiburg/Aston Villa / Switzerland)
• Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen / Algeria)
• Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Women's Young Talent of the Year Nominees

• Veerle Buurman (Chelsea / Netherlands)
• Vicky Lopez (Barcelona Femeni / Spain)
• Felicia Schroder (BK Hacken/Real Madrid / Sweden)
• Clara Serrajordi (Barcelona Femeni / Spain)
• Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes / USWNT)

Women's Coach of the Year Nominees

• Jonatan Giraldez (OL Lyonnes)
• Andree Jeglertz (Manchester City)
• Nils Nielsen (Japan; contract ended April 2026)
• Pere Romeu (Barcelona Femeni)
• Elena Sadiku (Celtic/BK Hacken)

Men's Coach of the Year Nominees

• Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
• Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
• Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
• Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich)
• Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women's Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees

• Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC / Germany)
• Cata Coll (Barcelona Femeni / Spain)
• Hannah Hampton (Chelsea / England)
• Lorena (Kansas City Current / Brazil)
• Ayaka Yamashita (Manchester City / Japan)

Men's Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees (Yashin Trophy)

• Yassine Bonou (Al Hilal / Morocco)
• Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid / Belgium)
• Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund / Switzerland)
• Joan Garcia (Barcelona / Spain)
• Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli / Senegal)
• Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/Chelsea / Senegal)
• David Raya (Arsenal / Spain)
• Vozinha (Colo Colo / Cape Verde)
• Unai Simon (Athletic Club / Spain)
• Matvey Safonov (Paris Saint-Germain / Russia)

Women's Club of the Year Nominees

• Barcelona Femeni
• Bayern Munich
• Club America Femenil
• Manchester City
• OL Lyonnes

Men's Club of the Year Nominees

• Arsenal
• Bayern Munich
• Bodo/Glimt
• Flamengo
• Paris Saint-Germain

Event Details and Voting Process

The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony is set for Monday, October 26, hosted in London instead of the usual Paris location, paying tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the first-ever recipient 70 years ago.

The selection involves international journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations for men’s awards and top 50 for women’s awards. They rank finalists based on individual performance, team success, and fair play during the previous season, removing lifetime achievements from consideration since 2022.