Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal are among the 30 nominees for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or, France Football announced on Tuesday.
Messi, 39, earned his 17th nomination while representing Inter Miami and Argentina, adding to his record eight wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Yamal, 19, received his third nomination after a standout 2025-26 season that included a Spanish league title, Super Cup success and World Cup triumph with Spain.
Full Nominees:
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)
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The award covers performances during the 2025-26 season, including the 2026 World Cup. The ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London, marking the prize’s 70th anniversary and its first staging outside Paris, in honour of inaugural winner Stanley Matthews.
