Ballon d'Or 2026 nominees announced ahead of London ceremony

The 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has been announced, with the ceremony scheduled to take place in London on October 26, 2026. Notable nominees include Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi.

A debate has emerged regarding the criteria for the award. Following Harry Kane's mention of his 73 goals scored last season, Lamine Yamal suggested that goal tallies are more relevant to the Golden Shoe than the Ballon d'Or, stating the award should go to the best player in the world rather than just the top scorer.

Additionally, Argentine player Cuti Romero has expressed his belief that the trophy should continue to be awarded to Lionel Messi for as long as he remains active in professional football, asserting that there is no player quite like him.