Messi, Kane, Mbappe and Haaland among 30 nominees for 2026 men's Ballon d'Or

Eight-time winner Lionel Messi, Norway's Erling Haaland, England and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane, Spain's World Cup winner Rodri, France captain Kylian Mbappe and England's rising star Jude Bellingham are among the leading nominees for the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or award. The official Ballon d'Or X account announced the 30 nominees, recognising players who excelled during the 2025-26 European football season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The list features some of the sport's biggest names based on their performances and achievements. ADVERTISEMENT Stay connected Make The News Mill your preferred source See more TNM stories when you search for news on Google. Add TNM on Google The full list of 30 nominees includes: Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami): Scored 45 goals with 30 assists and received four yellow cards in 49 matches. Won the Major League Soccer title and was instrumental in Argentina's World Cup runners-up finish, with eight goals and four assists. (Argentina, Inter Miami): Scored 45 goals with 30 assists and received four yellow cards in 49 matches. Won the Major League Soccer title and was instrumental in Argentina's World Cup runners-up finish, with eight goals and four assists. Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City): Registered 58 goals and 11 assists with three yellow cards in 64 matches. Scored seven goals as Norway reached the World Cup quarterfinals and won the FA Cup and EFL Cup with Manchester City. (Norway, Manchester City): Registered 58 goals and 11 assists with three yellow cards in 64 matches. Scored seven goals as Norway reached the World Cup quarterfinals and won the FA Cup and EFL Cup with Manchester City. Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich): Scored 73 goals and eight assists with three yellow cards in 65 matches. Won the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup with Bayern and helped England reach the World Cup semifinals, scoring six goals. (England, Bayern Munich): Scored 73 goals and eight assists with three yellow cards in 65 matches. Won the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup with Bayern and helped England reach the World Cup semifinals, scoring six goals. Rodri (Spain, Manchester City/FC Barcelona): Named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup, contributing to Spain's title win. Scored two goals and received six yellow cards and one red card in 46 matches. Also won the FA Cup and EFL Cup with Manchester City before transferring to Barcelona. (Spain, Manchester City/FC Barcelona): Named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup, contributing to Spain's title win. Scored two goals and received six yellow cards and one red card in 46 matches. Also won the FA Cup and EFL Cup with Manchester City before transferring to Barcelona. Kylian Mbappe (France, Real Madrid): Scored 58 goals and 13 assists with eight yellow cards in 60 matches. Top scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals, including ten in the 2026 tournament as France reached the semifinals, but won no trophies last season. (France, Real Madrid): Scored 58 goals and 13 assists with eight yellow cards in 60 matches. Top scorer in World Cup history with 22 goals, including ten in the 2026 tournament as France reached the semifinals, but won no trophies last season. Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid): Scored 15 goals and six assists with eight yellow cards in 52 matches. Part of England's World Cup semifinal run, scoring seven goals. No major trophies won. (England, Real Madrid): Scored 15 goals and six assists with eight yellow cards in 52 matches. Part of England's World Cup semifinal run, scoring seven goals. No major trophies won. Lamine Yamal (Spain, FC Barcelona): Won the World Cup, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup. Registered 25 goals and 20 assists with six yellow cards in 57 matches. (Spain, FC Barcelona): Won the World Cup, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup. Registered 25 goals and 20 assists with six yellow cards in 57 matches. Ousmane Dembele (France, PSG): 2025 Ballon d'Or winner with a trophy-filled season including the Champions League, FIFA Intercontinental Cup, Ligue 1, UEFA Super Cup and French Super Cup. Scored 26 goals with 14 assists in 51 matches, including a World Cup hat-trick. (France, PSG): 2025 Ballon d'Or winner with a trophy-filled season including the Champions League, FIFA Intercontinental Cup, Ligue 1, UEFA Super Cup and French Super Cup. Scored 26 goals with 14 assists in 51 matches, including a World Cup hat-trick. Vinicius Jr (Brazil, Real Madrid): Scored 28 goals and 16 assists with 11 yellow cards in 66 matches. Scored four goals and one assist as Brazil exited in the World Cup round of 16. (Brazil, Real Madrid): Scored 28 goals and 16 assists with 11 yellow cards in 66 matches. Scored four goals and one assist as Brazil exited in the World Cup round of 16. Pau Cubarsi (Spain, FC Barcelona): Won the World Cup, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup. Scored one goal and two assists with five yellow cards and one red card in 62 matches. (Spain, FC Barcelona): Won the World Cup, La Liga and Spanish Super Cup. Scored one goal and two assists with five yellow cards and one red card in 62 matches. Marc Cucurella (Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid): World Cup winner who transferred to Real Madrid. Scored two goals and seven assists with 13 yellow cards and one red card. (Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid): World Cup winner who transferred to Real Madrid. Scored two goals and seven assists with 13 yellow cards and one red card. Luis Diaz (Colombia, Bayern Munich): Won a domestic treble with Bayern, scoring 30 goals, delivering 23 assists, and receiving 10 yellow cards and two red cards. (Colombia, Bayern Munich): Won a domestic treble with Bayern, scoring 30 goals, delivering 23 assists, and receiving 10 yellow cards and two red cards. Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, Manchester United): Recorded 13 goals and 25 assists with seven yellow cards. Did not win trophies with club or country. (Portugal, Manchester United): Recorded 13 goals and 25 assists with seven yellow cards. Did not win trophies with club or country. Gabriel (Brazil, Arsenal): Won the Premier League with Arsenal. Scored four goals and six assists with six yellow cards. Brazil did not win the World Cup. (Brazil, Arsenal): Won the Premier League with Arsenal. Scored four goals and six assists with six yellow cards. Brazil did not win the World Cup. Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG): Won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Ligue 1 and Africa Cup of Nations, scoring four goals and providing 17 assists with six yellow cards and one red card. Morocco reached the World Cup quarterfinals. (Morocco, PSG): Won the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Ligue 1 and Africa Cup of Nations, scoring four goals and providing 17 assists with six yellow cards and one red card. Morocco reached the World Cup quarterfinals. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, PSG): Won Champions League, Ligue 1, FIFA Intercontinental Cup, UEFA European Cup and French Super Cup. Scored 24 goals and 10 assists with four yellow cards. (Georgia, PSG): Won Champions League, Ligue 1, FIFA Intercontinental Cup, UEFA European Cup and French Super Cup. Scored 24 goals and 10 assists with four yellow cards. Sadio Mané (Senegal, Al-Nassr): Led his club to the Saudi Pro League title, scoring 24 goals and 13 assists with eight yellow cards and one red card. Featured for Senegal in the season. (Senegal, Al-Nassr): Led his club to the Saudi Pro League title, scoring 24 goals and 13 assists with eight yellow cards and one red card. Featured for Senegal in the season. Marquinhos (Brazil, PSG): Won five trophies including the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1. Scored two goals and received three yellow cards in 43 matches. (Brazil, PSG): Won five trophies including the UEFA Champions League and Ligue 1. Scored two goals and received three yellow cards in 43 matches. Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter Milan): Scored 30 goals and 10 assists with nine yellow cards. Was part of Argentina's World Cup runners-up squad, scoring three goals. Won Serie A and Italian Cup with Inter Milan. (Argentina, Inter Milan): Scored 30 goals and 10 assists with nine yellow cards. Was part of Argentina's World Cup runners-up squad, scoring three goals. Won Serie A and Italian Cup with Inter Milan. Nuno Mendes (Portugal, PSG): Won five trophies including the Champions League and Ligue 1. Scored seven goals and eight assists with five yellow cards. (Portugal, PSG): Won five trophies including the Champions League and Ligue 1. Scored seven goals and eight assists with five yellow cards. Joao Neves (Portugal, PSG): Won four trophies including the Champions League. Scored 11 goals and four assists with two yellow cards. (Portugal, PSG): Won four trophies including the Champions League. Scored 11 goals and four assists with two yellow cards. Michael Olise (France, Bayern Munich): Recorded 27 goals and 35 assists, with 13 yellow cards. Won the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup. Provided seven assists in the World Cup, the most in a single edition. (France, Bayern Munich): Recorded 27 goals and 35 assists, with 13 yellow cards. Won the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup. Provided seven assists in the World Cup, the most in a single edition. William Pacho (Ecuador, PSG): Scored two goals and delivered one assist with three yellow cards. Played in Ecuador's World Cup round of 32 exit. Won five trophies with PSG. (Ecuador, PSG): Scored two goals and delivered one assist with three yellow cards. Played in Ecuador's World Cup round of 32 exit. Won five trophies with PSG. Julian Quinones (Mexico, Al-Qadsiah): Scored 41 goals and five assists in 46 matches. Scored four goals and an assist as Mexico reached the World Cup round of 16. (Mexico, Al-Qadsiah): Scored 41 goals and five assists in 46 matches. Scored four goals and an assist as Mexico reached the World Cup round of 16. Declan Rice (England, Arsenal): Scored eight goals and 14 assists with nine yellow cards. Won the Premier League with Arsenal and helped England reach the World Cup semifinals. (England, Arsenal): Scored eight goals and 14 assists with nine yellow cards. Won the Premier League with Arsenal and helped England reach the World Cup semifinals. Fabian Ruiz (Spain, PSG): Won five trophies including the Champions League and World Cup. Scored three goals and six assists with four yellow cards. (Spain, PSG): Won five trophies including the Champions League and World Cup. Scored three goals and six assists with four yellow cards. William Saliba (France, Arsenal): Won the Premier League. Scored one goal and one assist, facing three yellow cards in 60 matches. (France, Arsenal): Won the Premier League. Scored one goal and one assist, facing three yellow cards in 60 matches. Ferran Torres (Spain, Barcelona/PSG): Scored the extra-time winner for Spain in the World Cup final against Argentina. Won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona. Scored 25 goals and seven assists with three yellow cards. (Spain, Barcelona/PSG): Scored the extra-time winner for Spain in the World Cup final against Argentina. Won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona. Scored 25 goals and seven assists with three yellow cards. Dayot Upamecano (France, Bayern Munich): Won a domestic treble including the Bundesliga. Scored two goals and provided four assists in 58 matches. (France, Bayern Munich): Won a domestic treble including the Bundesliga. Scored two goals and provided four assists in 58 matches. Vitinha (Portugal, PSG): Won five trophies including the Champions League and Ligue 1. Scored seven goals and delivered 10 assists with three yellow cards. The Ballon d'Or is regarded as the highest individual accolade in football, awarded annually for outstanding performances over the preceding season and major international tournaments.