Favourite Kane makes Ballon d'Or shortlist
September 8, 2026 15:27
The 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or includes three England internationals — Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice — with Kane described as the favourite. Lionel Messi is also among the nominees, and six members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad are on the list, including young Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.
Paris St-Germain have a heavy presence among nominees (nine players named, not counting Torres, who joined PSG from Barcelona this summer), while Real Madrid duo Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior and Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba also make the cut. The goalkeeper shortlist for the men's Ballon d'Or category includes Cape Verde keeper Vozinha and Arsenal/Spain stopper David Raya.
KEY CONTEXT
- The Ballon d'Or is marking its 70th year; France Football created the award in 1956.
- The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in London on 26 October; the choice of London is presented as a symbolic tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d'Or winner.
- Harry Kane scored 73 goals last season for club and country (caption information).
- Lionel Messi, aged 39, scored eight goals at the World Cup as Argentina lost the final to Spain in July and has since retired from international football; the report notes he is aiming for a ninth Ballon d'Or.
- Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the World Cup final and moved from Barcelona to Paris St-Germain during the summer.
WHY IT MATTERS
The shortlist reflects both World Cup impact and club success: multiple World Cup winners from Spain are recognised, high-profile transfers and Champions League success are represented, and established stars such as Kane and Messi remain central to the conversation. PSG’s large number of nominees underlines the club’s prominence in player recognition this year.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced at the London ceremony on 26 October.
- Attention will focus on how World Cup performances influence the final outcome and whether the players highlighted (Kane as favourite, Messi pursuing a ninth award, Spain’s World Cup winners) convert nominations into the trophy.
- The goalkeeper category shortlist (including Vozinha and David Raya) remains a separate area to follow ahead of the ceremony.
KEY FACTS
- The 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist contains 30 players.
- England have three nominees: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice.
- Lionel Messi is nominated; he scored eight World Cup goals and has retired from international duty.
- Six Spain World Cup winners are on the shortlist, including Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.
- The Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place in London on 26 October as part of the award’s 70th anniversary.