Eight-time winner Lionel Messi and Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal anchor the star-studded list, announced via the award body’s official X account.
Several names on this year’s roster are making their case for the first time, joining a mix of proven winners and rising talents who forced their way into contention through standout campaigns across club and international football.
Messi, now 39, picked up his 17th career nomination while representing Inter Miami and Argentina. The forward retired from international duty in August but continues extending a résumé that already includes Ballon d’Or wins in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Yamal, just 19, earned his third nomination after a breakout campaign that saw him lift the World Cup with Spain, claim the La Liga title, and win the Spanish Super Cup. He also posted eye-catching goal and assist numbers throughout the season, cementing his status as one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
Read also on New Daily Prime:Arteta leads Men”s Coach of the year race as Ballon d’Or unveils 2026 nominees
Golden Shoe Winner Kane eyes Ballon D’or after ;best season ever
The full nominee list stretches across clubs and continents, featuring Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Jr., and Vitinha.
The presence of newer names alongside long-time contenders reflects a season shaped by shifting power across Europe’s top leagues and a World Cup that reshuffled the global pecking order. Voters will now weigh individual brilliance against team success as they narrow the field down to a single winner.
This year’s award covers performances throughout the 2025-26 season, including the 2026 World Cup, giving voters a broader body of work to assess than in previous editions tied strictly to the calendar year.
The ceremony itself carries extra significance. Set for October 26 in London, it marks the first time the Ballon d’Or gala has been held outside Paris, a deliberate choice to honor the award’s 70th anniversary and pay tribute to Stanley Matthews, its inaugural winner in 1956.
