Ballon d’Or 2026 shortlist revealed: Dembélé, Mbappé, Kane, Messi and Yamal lead star-studded race for football’s biggest prize

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has officially begun, with defending champions Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal among the biggest names included in the 30-player shortlist announced by France Football on Tuesday.The women’s shortlist also features a number of top contenders, including two-time winner Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay, who will be hoping to replace Aitana Bonmatí, who has won the award in each of the past three years but missed much of the season due to injury.The winners will be crowned at a ceremony in London on October 26, when the event moves from its traditional Parisian setting to mark the 70th anniversary of the first Ballon d’Or won in 1956 by England legend Stanley Matthews.For Dembélé, the opportunity to become the first player since Bonmatí to retain the award comes after another remarkable season with Paris Saint-Germain. The Frenchman helped PSG win their second consecutive Champions League title, strengthening their claim to remain at the top of the individual game.Still, even Dembélé believes the trophy could remain in Paris regardless of who ends up winning it.“I don’t think the trophy is undecided. I think it will remain in the hands of a Paris Saint-Germain player,” he said in an interview with France Football.When asked to name his three main candidates, Dembélé chose PSG team-mates Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kane and Mbappé. He also picked up Michael Olis, Yamal, Fabian Ruiz and Willian Pacho – but left himself out of his own top three.

Mbappé believes this could finally be his year

Mbappé enters the race having produced one of the most prolific individual campaigns of his career, despite Real Madrid ending the season without a major trophy.The France captain scored 42 goals in 44 games for Madrid and also enjoyed a record-breaking World Cup campaign. He won the Golden Boot for the second time in a row with 10 goals and moved past Lionel Messi to become the tournament’s top scorer with 22 goals.His individual numbers have strengthened his belief that he could finally get his hands on the Ballon d’Or after finishing third in 2023.“There are many people who talk about me and the Ballon d’Or. Of course I made history in the most important competition. Maybe it’s a good year, but people can vote according to what they think,” Mbappé said on Monday.The French superstar also acknowledged the unique expectations that come with playing for Real Madrid.“I think when you play for Real Madrid, the best club in the world, people automatically associate you with this award,” Mbappé added. “I always think I’m the best, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.”Asked about comparisons to the other front-runners, Mbappé refused to be drawn into a debate that could quickly become endless.“I don’t like to compare because I do a lot of things that others don’t,” said Mbappé. “If we get into it, it’s going to be an endless debate, you know?”

Kane, Yamal and Messi among the contenders

Kane has arguably had one of the strongest seasons of his career, scoring 73 goals for club and country and finally adding significant silverware to his collection after helping Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga.Yamal is another big contender after playing a central role in Spain’s World Cup triumph and Barcelona’s success in La Liga. His continued rise has put the teenager firmly among the game’s elite.Messi, meanwhile, remains on the shortlist at 39. The eight-time winner continues to challenge for individual honors after leading Argentina to second place at the World Cup and helping Inter Miami win Major League Soccer.Dembélé and Mbappé both featured for France at the World Cup, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual champions Spain. While major team trophies traditionally carry significant weight in the Ballon d’Or race, Mbappé’s individual World Cup records could keep him firmly in contention.

Bonmatí is absent as the women’s race opens

The women’s prize has a significantly different complexion this year after Bonmatí was left out of the 30-player shortlist.The Barcelona star dominated the award, winning three consecutive Ballon d’Or Feminin titles, but injury sidelined her for most of the season. She returned towards the end of Barcelona’s campaign and was able to feature as the club completed a quadruple, which included another Champions League triumph.Putellas, a two-time winner, now has the opportunity to reclaim the crown, while Pajor and Dumornay are among the other prominent names in the competition.Coaching awards will also be closely watched. Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente and Arsenal’s Premier League-winning manager Mikel Arteta are the frontrunners for the men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy nominations.They are joined by Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany and Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique.In the women’s category, Jonatan Giraldez, Andree Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu and Elena Sadiku are nominated.

How the Ballon d’Or winner is decided

Created by France Football, the Ballon d’Or has been awarded to men since 1956 and to women since 2018. The men’s award is voted for by one journalist from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings, while the women’s award involves journalists from the top 50.Each voter ranks their selection with points allocated based on each player’s position. The player who collects the most points wins.Organizers say voting is based on three criteria, in order of importance: individual performances and decisive, impressive character; collective achievements and titles obtained; and class and fair play.With the shortlist already confirmed, Dembélé has the chance to defend his crown, Mbappé is chasing the first Ballon d’Or of his career, Kane hopes his trophy-laden season will finally translate into individual recognition, while Yamal and Messi add further star power to a race that promises to go down to the wire.