Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among the leading names on the 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist after the nominees for football's most prestigious individual prize were revealed on Tuesday.
Kane's inclusion comes after a prolific season for Bayern Munich and England, while Barcelona star Yamal and Real Madrid forward Mbappé have also made the cut following standout campaigns for club and country.
The three are joined by a host of the game's biggest names on the shortlist, with the winner set to be crowned at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Oct. 26.
Lionel Messi has been nominated for the first time since 2023, when he scooped the award for the eighth time after his move to Inter Miami.
Rodri is once again on the shortlist after taking the award in 2024, joining his new Barcelona teammates Yamal and Pau Cubarsí.
Paris Saint-Germain have 10 nominees on the list, by far the most of any single club -- eclipsing the seven nominees from LaLiga, and five from the Premier League.
Last year's winner Ousmane Dembélé is nominated for the award, alongside Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Willian Pacho, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, João Neves, Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha and PSG's newly acquired Ferran Torres.
In an interview with France Football, Dembélé said he expects the award to remain at PSG. "I don't think the trophy is undecided. I think it will remain in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player," he said.
Kane, however, is the bookies' favourite, after scoring 72 goals for club and country in 2025-26.
"Not that long ago, I was that fan wanting to become a professional footballer and I am here now and winning awards and the Ballon d'Or is the same," an "extremely proud" Kane told TNT in an interview before the nominees were announced.
"Of course, now it is out of my hands, it is down to the voters and the people who decide it. The season I had was my best season by far and we'll have to wait and see."
The other men's nominees include Real Madrid stars Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, as well as Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.
Italy, which did not qualify for the World Cup, and the Netherlands and Germany had no representatives. Only one player from Serie A, Lautaro Martínez of Inter Milan, was selected.
No goalkeeper was nominated, ensuring Lev Yashin remains the only keeper to win the coveted trophy (1963) for another year.
The European champions are favourites for the men's club of the year awards after winning the double, with Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo and Bodo/Glimt also nominated.
Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente and Unai Emery have been nominated for men's coach of the year, while Vozinha has been nominated for goalkeeper of the year for his World Cup heroics.
Lamine Yamal is among 10 starlets in the running for young talent of the year.
- Women's Ballon d'Or 2026 nominees: Alexia Putellas, Bunny Shaw, Alessia Russo on shortlist
Men's Ballon d'Or nominees: Complete shortlists
Ballon d'Or: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, João Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Jr., Vitinha
Young Talent of the Year: Kerim Alajbegović, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsí, Yan Diomandé, Lennart Karl, Éli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaïre-Emery
Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Édouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Vozinha, Unai Simón
Manager of the Year: Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery
Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo, Bodo/Glimt
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
