Ballon d'Or 2026: three names stand out among the 30 nominees

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17/10/26 18:30:00

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The Ballon d'Or 2026 already has its 30 nominees for the ceremony on the 26th of October in London, with Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, and Harry Kane among the names sparking pre-award discussions. The three come with different arguments after a season marked by their individual stats and the titles they have won.

The list also includes Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Leo Messi, Rodri, Vinícius Jr., Vitinha, Achraf Hakimi, Lautaro Martínez, Fabián Ruiz, and Michael Olise. In total, there are 30 footballers selected to succeed Dembélé as the winner.

The 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or 2026

The complete list consists of Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, and Lautaro Martínez.

It is completed by Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Leo Messi, João Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Jr., and Vitinha.

Among the candidates, Harry Kane, the 33-year-old forward from Bayern, stands out. He ended the 2025/26 season with 73 goals and eight assists in 65 matches, in addition to winning the Bundesliga, the German Cup, and the German Super Cup. This marks his eighth nomination for the award.

Mbappé and Lamine Yamal defend their candidacy

Mbappé, the 27-year-old forward from Real Madrid, also boasts significant individual stats: he concluded the season with 58 goals and 13 assists in 60 matches. It is the ninth time he has appeared among the nominees, with his best previous result being third place in 2023.

The Frenchman has openly discussed his chances. In a recent interview with AS, he stated that his performances should uphold his candidacy and expressed his desire for the Ballon d'Or 2026 to once again land at Real Madrid. Days later, he also acknowledged that it would be a disappointment not to win the award following his season.

Lamine Yamal, aged 19, has also publicly defended his chances. The Barcelona player concluded 2025/26 with 25 goals and 20 assists in 57 games, securing the World Cup with Spain, as well as LaLiga and the Spanish Super Cup with his club.

In Universo Valdano, Lamine placed Mbappé and himself among the current standout players and argued that the award should recognize the best footballer, not merely by the number of goals. He also maintained that his titles during the season support his candidacy.

Harry Kane arrives with 73 goals

The final decision will be made on the 26th of October. Until then, the 30 nominees remain officially in contention, with the award's voters determining the winner of the Ballon d'Or 2026, each candidate presenting different profiles and merits.

Clarify the gala criteria, reduce data repetition, strengthen the main conflict.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Balón de Oro 2026: tres nombres sobresalen entre los 30 nominados