Who won the Ballon d'Or 2026? Winner, men's ranking and full list of contenders

Football fans are waiting to find out who won the Ballon d'Or 2026, with the world's biggest individual football award set to recognise the standout player of the 2025-26 season. The winner of the men's award has not yet been officially announced as of October 26, ahead of the ceremony in London. The 70th edition of the Ballon d'Or ceremony will take place at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26. It marks the first time the prestigious awards ceremony is being held in London instead of Paris. The main event is scheduled to begin at 8 pm GMT, which is 1:30 am IST on Tuesday, October 27, in India. The announcement will settle the debate over who deserves to be recognised as the best men's footballer in the world after a season featuring major club competitions and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Who won the Ballon d'Or 2026 men's award?

The winner of the men's Ballon d'Or 2026 is yet to be confirmed officially before the ceremony. Football fans will have to wait for the announcement to discover who will succeed Ousmane Dembele, who won the men's award in 2025. Several leading footballers are in contention for the honour, including Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi. Their performances during the eligible period have made them part of the conversation around this year's award. However, being a nominee or a favourite does not guarantee victory. The final result will be determined through the Ballon d'Or voting process, and the official announcement will establish the winner.

Ballon d'Or 2026 ranking: Who are the favourites?

The men's Ballon d'Or shortlist has 30 players from leading clubs and national teams. While the final ranking will be revealed through the awards process, several names have attracted attention ahead of the ceremony.

Here are some of the prominent contenders to watch:

• Harry Kane: The Bayern Munich striker is among the leading candidates after another prolific campaign. A win would make him the first Englishman to receive the men's award since Michael Owen in 2001.
• Lamine Yamal: The Barcelona forward is among the most closely watched young players in world football and is competing for one of the game's biggest individual honours.
• Kylian Mbappe: The Real Madrid forward remains a major contender, with his goalscoring record and performances for club and country central to his case.
• Erling Haaland: The Manchester City striker is another familiar name in the race, having established himself as one of the most prolific goalscorers in the game.
• Lionel Messi: The Argentina captain is also on the shortlist. He has won the men's Ballon d'Or eight times, the most by any player.

Other nominees include Ousmane Dembele, Rodri, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Michael Olise, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Vitinha. These names are contenders, not a confirmed order of finish. The official ranking will determine who takes the trophy and where the other nominees place.

Ballon d'Or 2026 full list of men's nominees

The following 30 players have been nominated for the men's Ballon d'Or 2026, according to UEFA's published shortlist:

1. Jude Bellingham
2. Pau Cubarsi
3. Marc Cucurella
4. Ousmane Dembele
5. Luis Diaz
6. Bruno Fernandes
7. Gabriel
8. Erling Haaland
9. Achraf Hakimi
10. Harry Kane
11. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
12. Lamine Yamal
13. Sadio Mane
14. Marquinhos
15. Lautaro Martinez
16. Kylian Mbappe
17. Nuno Mendes
18. Lionel Messi
19. Joao Neves
20. Michael Olise
21. Willian Pacho
22. Julian Quinones
23. Declan Rice
24. Rodri
25. Fabian Ruiz
26. William Saliba
27. Ferran Torres
28. Dayot Upamecano
29. Vinicius Junior
30. Vitinha

The list includes three previous winners of the men's award: Messi, Dembele and Rodri. The eventual winner will be confirmed at the ceremony.

How is the Ballon d'Or winner decided?

The Ballon d'Or is organised by France Football in partnership with UEFA. An international jury of journalists votes on the shortlisted players, assessing their individual performances, contributions to their teams, achievements and sportsmanship. The award recognises performances during the designated evaluation period rather than simply rewarding a player's reputation or career record. Club success, international performances and individual impact can all influence the debate. The voting process produces the final ranking, with the player receiving the highest overall score winning the award.

Who won the Ballon d'Or in 2025?

Ousmane Dembele won the men's Ballon d'Or in 2025 after an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain. Aitana Bonmati won the women's award that year. Dembele is among the nominees again in 2026, but he faces competition from several high-profile players hoping to claim the trophy this time.

When will the Ballon d'Or 2026 winner be announced in India?

The Ballon d'Or 2026 ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London, with the main event beginning at 8 pm GMT. For viewers in India, that translates to 1:30 am IST on October 27. The men's winner is expected to be announced during the ceremony. Fans following the event from India should keep in mind that the announcement will take place after midnight local time.