2026 Ballon d’Or Shortlists Released as Mbappé, Messi, Yamal, Haaland and Others Make the Cut

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has officially begun, with the first set of nominees announced ahead of the prestigious football awards ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.

The initial shortlist announcement revealed contenders for several major categories, including the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Talent of the Year, Coach of the Year and Club of the Year awards.

Among the biggest names on the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist are defending stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Jr., Rodri and Lamine Yamal.

The list also includes several players who enjoyed standout seasons, including Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, Achraf Hakimi, Lautaro Martínez, Declan Rice, William Saliba and Bruno Fernandes.

In the women’s category, the nominees feature some of the biggest names in the game, including Alexia Putellas, Caroline Graham Hansen, Mariona Caldentey, Khadija Shaw, Alessia Russo and Vivianne Miedema.

The Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year shortlist includes Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martínez, David Raya, Yassine Bounou and Unai Simón, while the women’s category features goalkeepers such as Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton and Ann-Katrin Berger.

The Young Talent of the Year awards will also attract attention, with teenage stars Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí and Warren Zaïre-Emery among the nominees for the men’s prize. The women’s shortlist includes rising talents such as Vicky López and Lily Yohannes.

For the coaching awards, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique, Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany and Spain manager Luis de la Fuente are among the men’s nominees.

The Men’s Club of the Year award will be contested by Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain, while Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club América, Manchester City and Lyon are nominated in the women’s category.

The remaining Ballon d’Or shortlists will be announced as the voting process continues. The main individual awards will eventually feature 30-player shortlists for both the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or prizes.

Winners will be decided through voting and crowned at the ceremony in London on October 26, where football’s biggest individual and team achievements will be celebrated.