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The Ballon d’Or 2026 nominations were officially announced on Tuesday by France Football in partnership with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), setting the stage for a ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London. According to the organizing bodies, the released shortlists for men’s, women’s, coaching, and club categories sparked immediate controversy due to high-profile omissions across multiple divisions.
Major Omissions and Controversies in the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Shortlists
The women’s shortlist omission of Spain’s Aitana Bonmatí stands as the most notable exclusion, as reported by France Football and UEFA. Bonmatí had secured the Ballon d’Or in each of the three preceding editions. In the men’s player category, Brazil international Raphinha missed out on the 30-player nomination despite his standout performances for Barcelona, alongside Spanish teammates Pedri and Dani Olmo. Other prominent figures absent from the men’s list include Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Contenders for the men’s Ballon d’Or among the group of 30 selected athletes feature Vitinha, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Ferran Torres, Fabián Ruiz, Lionel Messi, Declan Rice, Vinícius Júnior, Nuno Mendes, Rodri, Julián Quiñones, João Neves, William Pacho, Michael Olise, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Marquinhos, Sadio Mané, Lamine Yamal, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane, Achraf Hakimi, Gabriel Magalhães, Erling Haaland, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Ousmane Dembélé, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, and Jude Bellingham.
The group of 30 athletes selected for the women’s shortlist consists of Tessa Wullaert, Caroline Weir, Momoko Tanikawa, Khadija Shaw, Alessia Russo, Wendie Renard, Alexia Putellas, Claudia Pina, Ewa Pajor, Vivianne Miedema, Manaka Matsukubo, Melvine Malard, Lorena, Mapi León, Rose Lavelle, Yui Hasegawa, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Alex Greenwood, Caroline Graham Hansen, Melchie Dumornay, Cata Coll, Temwa Chawinga, Kerstin Casparij, Scarlett Camberos, Mariona Caldentey, Esmee Brugts, Clara Bühl, Barbra Banda, and Selma Bacha.
Did you know? The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place in London on October 26, marking the first time in the history of the award that the event is hosted in the British capital.
Coaching and Club Nominations Dominated by European Success
Coaching categories also featured significant exclusions. According to the announcement, Barcelona technical director Hansi Flick missed out on the men’s coach shortlist, as detailed by the organizers. For women’s coach of the year, the nominees are Jonatan Giráldez (Lyon), Andrée Jeglertz (Manchester City), Nils Nielsen (Japan national team), Pere Romeu (Barcelona), and Elena Sadiku (Celtic/BK Häcken).
Spanish managers dominate the men’s coach of the year nominees, with Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Luis de la Fuente (Spain national team), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), and Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain) all making the cut alongside Belgian coach Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich), as detailed by the organizers. For women’s coach of the year, the nominees are Jonatan Giráldez (Lyon), Andrée Jeglertz (Manchester City), Nils Nielsen (Japan national team), Pere Romeu (Barcelona), and Elena Sadiku (Celtic/BK Häcken).
In the club categories, UEFA and France Football slated La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona alongside Champions League runners-up Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Lyon for the women’s club of the year prize. For the men’s team award, Premier League champions and Champions League runners-up Arsenal compete against Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Goalkeeper and Young Player Shortlists
The Yashin Trophy for the best men’s goalkeeper features Joan García (Spain), Yassine Bounou (Morocco), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Emiliano Martínez (Argentina), Gregor Kobel (Switzerland), Édouard Mendy (Senegal), David Raya (Spain), Unai Simón (Spain), Vozinha (Cape Verde), and Safonov (Russia). The women’s goalkeeper shortlist includes Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Cata Coll (Spain), Hannah Hampton (England), Lorena (Brazil), and Ayaka Yamashita (Japan).
For the Kopa Trophy recognizing the world’s best under-21 player, two Arab talents—Ayoub Bouaddi of Morocco and Ibrahim Maza of Algeria—have been nominated. They compete alongside Kerim Alajbegović (Bosnia), Pau Cubarsí (Spain), Yan Diomandé (Ivory Coast), Lennart Karl (Germany), Elie Junior Kroupi (France), Lamine Yamal (Spain), Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), and Warren Zaïre-Emery (France), according to the official release.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony be held?
According to France Football and UEFA, the ceremony is scheduled for October 26, 2026, in London, United Kingdom.
Who votes for the Ballon d’Or winners?
Winners are chosen through a vote by a panel of sports journalists representing various countries worldwide, based on individual and collective performance, sportsmanship, and consistency over the season.
Which notable players missed the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or list?
The shortlist omits Brazil’s Raphinha, and Spanish players Pedri and Dani Olmo.
Football enthusiasts can follow updates and join discussions regarding these selections on community platforms like the Kooora forums. To stay informed on upcoming sports awards and tournament analyses, explore our latest coverage or share your thoughts in the comments below.
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