Lionel Messi, the legendary forward, has once again been included in the prestigious 30-man shortlist for the men’s Ballon d’Or award, marking his remarkable 17th career nomination. This significant return is widely attributed to his outstanding performance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, where he was instrumental in leading Argentina to the final. Notably, Spain boasts the highest number of nominees this year, with an impressive six players contending for the world’s most coveted individual football prize.
Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, makes his comeback to the shortlist after missing out in 2024 and 2025. This stands in contrast to his long-time rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, who has not featured on the list since 2023, following his move to Al Nassr. The Inter Miami captain, now 39, earned his spot through a series of exceptional displays during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As Argentina’s captain, he scored eight goals throughout the tournament, contributing significantly to his team’s total of 21 goals across six appearances. This nomination also comes after a period of personal reflection, as Messi had announced his retirement from the Argentine national team following the passing of his father at the age of 68.
Among the Spanish contingent, forward Ferran Torres is also a prominent nominee for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Torres, who scored the winning goal in the 2026 World Cup final against Argentina, has recently joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona. He is one of six Spanish players who were crucial in securing Spain’s second World Cup title. The other distinguished Spanish nominees include Rodri (representing Manchester City and Barcelona during the relevant period), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea and Real Madrid), and Fabián Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain).
Beyond Spain, the shortlist features a galaxy of footballing stars. Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain, the 2025 Ballon d’Or recipient, is once again nominated after playing a pivotal role in PSG’s second consecutive UEFA Champions League title last season. England captain Harry Kane is also a leading contender, recognized for guiding Bayern Munich to a Bundesliga triumph and helping England secure a third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup. His Bayern Munich teammate, Michael Olise, also earned a nomination. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham is another strong candidate, lauded for his exceptional performances and seven goals for England at the 2026 World Cup. His club colleagues, Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior, also feature on the esteemed list.
Further adding to the competitive field, Erling Haaland’s dominant performances for Norway at the 2026 FIFA World Cup secured his place among the nominees. The Young Talent Award shortlist also sees continued recognition for Lamine Yamal, who has impressively won the accolade twice consecutively in the past two years. In the goalkeeping category, the 40-year-old Cape Verdean custodian, Vozinha, earned a nomination for the best goalkeeper award, following his remarkable displays at the 2026 World Cup.
In the women’s category, a notable development sees Aitana Bonmatí, a three-time Ballon d’Or winner, absent from the shortlist after her departure from Barcelona. However, her former teammate Alexia Putellas, who claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2021 and 2022 and has since moved to London City, makes a welcome return to the nominations.
The winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or will be officially announced on October 26, at the London Palladium in England.
The full list of 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or includes: Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid), Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (France, Paris Saint-Germain), Luis Díaz (Colombia, Bayern München), Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, Manchester United), Gabriel (Brazil, Arsenal), Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain), Harry Kane (England, Bayern München), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Paris Saint-Germain), Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona), Sadio Mané (Senegal, Al-Nassr), Marquinhos (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain), Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter), Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid), Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami), João Neves (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain), Michael Olise (France, Bayern München), Willian Pacho (Ecuador, Paris Saint-Germain), Julián Quiñones (Mexico, Al-Qadsiah), Declan Rice (England, Arsenal), Rodri (Spain, Manchester City/Barcelona), Fabián Ruiz (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain), William Saliba (France, Arsenal), Ferran Torres (Spain, Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain), Dayot Upamecano (France, Paris Saint-Germain), Vinícius Júnior (Brazil, Real Madrid), and Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain).
