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Raphinha and Pedri excluded from 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist
The announcement of the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has sparked significant controversy following the exclusion of FC Barcelona players Raphinha and Pedri. Barcelona sporting director Deco described the omission as a ‘worldwide scandal’, a sentiment echoed by club president Joan Laporta, who argued both players earned their place after a successful season including La Liga and Supercopa de Espana titles.
Raphinha, who has transitioned into a productive central forward role under manager Hansi Flick, responded to the snub by focusing on his on-field performance. He recently scored a brace in a 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord, bringing his season tally to eight goals in five matches. Despite his high output, Raphinha noted that the award criteria do not always align with individual statistical results.
The 2026 shortlist includes several high-profile names such as Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lamine Yamal, the latter of whom made history as the first player nominated three times before age 20. While PSG sees a massive presence with ten nominees, including defending winner Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the debate continues regarding the perceived unfairness toward players like Raphinha and Pedri.
Entities
Ballon d'Or · CIES Sports Observatory · Deco · Desiré Doué · FC Barcelona · France Football · Joan Laporta · Ousmane Dembele · PSG · Paris Saint-Germain · Raphinha
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] PSG aims to avoid the perception of influencing Ballon d'Or votes. www.butfootballclub.fr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Bradley Barcola was excluded from the Ballon d'Or nominations after receiving very few votes. www.sport.fr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] PSG's ten-year transfer deficit stands at -€209m.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ferran Torres is among the ten nominees due to his season and role with Spain. www.butfootballclub.fr