Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal have been named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or.
France Football unveiled the nominees for the various award categories via its X handle on Tuesday.
Messi, 39, received his 17th career nomination while representing Inter Miami and Argentina. The veteran forward has previously won the prestigious award in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Yamal, 19, earned his third nomination following an impressive 2025-26 campaign with Barcelona and Spain, which included a Spanish league title, the Super Cup and World Cup success.
2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or Nominees Full List
- Jude Bellingham (England)
- Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
- Marc Cucurella (Spain)
- Ousmane Dembélé (France)
- Luis Díaz (Colombia)
- Bruno Fernandes (Portugal)
- Gabriel (Brazil)
- Erling Haaland (Norway)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Harry Kane (England)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
- Lamine Yamal (Spain)
- Sadio Mané (Senegal)
- Marquinhos (Brazil)
- Lautaro Martínez (Argentina)
- Kylian Mbappé (France)
- Nuno Mendes (Portugal)
- Lionel Messi (Argentina)
- João Neves (Portugal)
- Michael Olise (France)
- Willian Pacho (Ecuador)
- Julián Quiñones (Mexico)
- Declan Rice (England)
- Rodri (Spain)
- Fabián Ruiz (Spain)
- William Saliba (France)
- Ferran Torres (Spain)
- Dayot Upamecano (France)
- Vinícius Jr. (Brazil)
- Vitinha (Portugal)
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will hold on October 26 in London, marking the first time the event will be staged outside Paris. The ceremony will also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the award and honour its inaugural winner, Stanley Matthews.