Eight-time 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 categories via its X handle on Tuesday.
Messi, 39, received his 17th career Ballon d’Or nomination while representing Inter Miami and Argentina.
The Argentine has won the prestigious award a record eight times, in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
Messi retired from the Argentina national team in August but remains among the leading names on the 2026 shortlist.
Yamal, the 19-year-old Spain and Barcelona attacker, earned his third Ballon d’Or nomination after a campaign that included World Cup success with Spain, a Spanish league title and the Super Cup.
The Barcelona winger also recorded strong goal and assist numbers during the season and featured among the young talent contenders.
Full list of nominees
The 30 nominees for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or are:
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 award covers players’ performances during the 2025-26 season, including the 2026 World Cup.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held on October 26 in London.
It will be the first time the ceremony has taken place outside Paris, with the event marking the 70th anniversary of the award and honouring its inaugural winner, Stanley Matthews.
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