Ballon d'Or 2026 pits Kane, Mbappe and Yamal in tight race
The Ballon d'Or 2026, the 70th edition of football's most prestigious individual award, will be presented by Kate Scott and Thierry Henry live from the London Palladium. For only the fifth time the prize is decided on season‑long results, and the favourites are Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal.
Presentation and new voting format
The ceremony marks a shift from the traditional calendar‑year basis, aligning the award with the performance of the current season. This change aims to reward consistency across league, cup and European competitions, a move praised by many within the football community.
Both Scott and Henry will host the event, adding their own football pedigree to the proceedings. Their presence underscores the ceremony’s status as a marquee moment on the London sporting calendar.
Men's shortlist and English representation
The men’s shortlist features a blend of established stars and emerging talent, with three English players – Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane – among the nominees. Seven Premier League players feature, including Arsenal’s William Saliba and Gabriel, Chelsea’s former Marc Cucurella, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, and Manchester City’s Rodri and Erling Haaland, the latter having left over the summer.
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Other notable nominees are Sadio Mane (29 points), William Saliba (29), Julian Quinones (28), Bruno Fernandes (27) and the trio ícius Junior, Vitinha and Willian Pacho (26). Six of Spain’s World Cup‑winning squad have also been named, with Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Cucurella joined by Fabian Ruiz, Pau Cubarsi and Ferran Torres. Last year’s winner Ousmane Dembele returns after adding another Champions League title with Paris Saint‑Germain.
Women's shortlist and notable absences
The women’s Ballon d'Or list showcases talent from across Europe, led by Vivianne Miedema (28 points) and Lorena (28). Other high‑scoring nominees include Rose Lavelle (27), Alex Greenwood (26), Caroline Weir (25) and Kerstin Casparij (24). The list continues with Momoko Tanikawa (23), Manaka Matsukubo (22) and Scarlett Camberos (21), among others.
Several Women's Super League players feature, such as Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal, Alex Greenwood and Bunny Shaw of Manchester City, and Vivianne Miedema also representing Manchester City. Aitana Bonmati is notably absent, missing out on a fourth nomination despite her recent performances.
The ceremony will unfold in London with a live countdown of the nominees, and Kylian Mbappe has already arrived in the capital ahead of the event. Organisers promise a tightly contested award, reflecting the season‑long form of the three leading men’s candidates and the depth of talent on the women’s shortlist.