Photo Credit: Ballon d’Or official X handle via PunchNG
70th Ballon d’Or: Full List of Nominees for 2026 Awards Unveiled
The organizers of the Ballon d’Or have released the full shortlist for the 2026 edition, marking the 70th anniversary of football’s most prestigious individual award.

The nominees, which cover the 2025/26 season, were announced on Tuesday via the award body’s official X handle.

Alongside the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, nominees were also unveiled for the Striker of the Year, Young Talent of the Year (Kopa Trophy), Goalkeeper of the Year (Yashin Trophy), Club of the Year, and Coach of the Year categories.

Full List of Nominees:

MEN’S BALLON D’OR
Rodrigo Hernandez, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Erling Haaland, Gabriel Magalhaes, Harry Kane, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marcos Corrêa, Sadio Mane, Lautaro Martínez, Nuno Mendes, Michael Olise, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Julian Quiñones, Declan Rice, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Vinicius Jr., Vítor Ferreira (Vitinha)

WOMEN’S BALLON D’OR
Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Bühl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Pernille Harder, Patri Guijarro, Rose Lavelle, Yui Hasegawa, Mapi León, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Ewa Pajor, Vivianne Miedema, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, Momoko Tanikawa, Wendie Renard, Khadija Shaw, Caroline Weir, Tessa Wullaert

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany, Luis Enrique

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
Jonatan Giráldez, Andrée Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu, Elena Sadiku

MEN’S CLUB OF THE YEAR
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo, Paris Saint-Germain

WOMEN’S CLUB OF THE YEAR
FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club América, Manchester City, OL Lyonnes

MEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (YASHIN TROPHY)
Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Edouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Unai Simón, Vozinha (Josimar Dias)

WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena, Ayaka Yamashita

MEN’S YOUNG TALENT OF THE YEAR (KOPA TROPHY)
Ayyoub Bouaddi, Kerim Alajbegović, Yan Diomandé, Pau Cubarsi, Lennart Karl, Éli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Ibrahim Maza, Johan Manzambi, Warren Zaïre-Emery

WOMEN’S YOUNG TALENT OF THE YEAR
Veerle Buurman, Vicky López, Felicia Schröder, Clara Serrajordi, Lily Yohannes
Source: Punch Newspapers