Ballon d'Or 2026: nominations revealed, dominance of Spain and Paris Saint-Germain

Lots of Spain, lots of Paris Saint-Germin and only one player from Serie A, Inter player Lautaro Martinez. No Italians. And Leo Messi, who thanks to the World Cup returns to the shortlist, after being excluded last year. The list of 30 candidates for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has been revealed and the presence of Kylian Mbappé or Ousmane Dembelé is no surprise.

Rather, among the top 10 goalkeepers is the Cape Verdean Vozinha - 40 years old, a revelation in the last World Cup - but not Gigio Donnarumma, number 1 of Manchester City and the Italian national team. Among the women, the Spanish Aitana Bonmati, three times winner of the trophy, is absent. The two most voted, in the men's and women's field, will be announced on October 26, in London. The list includes all the major contenders.

In addition to Dembelé, first in 2025, seven other players appear from PSG, winner of the second consecutive Champions League in May: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Marquinhos and Willian Pacho. The Spaniards, who graduated World Champions in the United States, are the most numerous, with six representatives, including Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Ferran Torres. In the running for what would be his ninth title is Messi, a finalist with Argentina, who announced his retirement from the national team a few days ago.

It won't be easy for the 'Pulce', 39 years old, who has played for Inter Miami for three years. The jury could decide to award him a lifetime achievement award. The Senegalese Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr) and the Mexican Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah FC) were not to be taken for granted. Spanish dominance also among the coaches, with four names (Luis Enrique, Emery, Arteta, De La Fuente), in addition to the Belgian Kompany. With a month and a half to go until the ceremony, speculation is mounting as to who will be crowned at the end of a season without a clear favorite. According to Luis Enrique, PSG coach, the trophy should go to a player from the Parisian club, an opinion shared today by Marquinhos.

"We have very good players. I can't name one. It's an individual award. We've won some important titles," said the Brazilian defender. Mbappé, who won nothing with Real Madrid last season but became the World Cup's top scorer, said yesterday he had "the feeling that this could be the right year".

Yamal assured that the "first objective" for him and Barcelona "is the Champions League". Winning the Ballon d'Or "doesn't depend on me, it depends on you - he said to journalists -. My work with Barça and with the national team was incredible. I'm coming off a great season. But we'll see". "I don't think I have to promote myself - he added - I'm proud of what I've done with my team and the national team. We are world champions, we won La Liga for the second time, I can't ask for more".

In the women's category, Bonmati's absence is the surprise in the list of 30. The Barcelona star was injured at the end of November and only returned last May, too early to aspire to a fourth success in a row. The favorites to succeed her are all there, including the three Barcelona players, the two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas (now at London City Lionesses), Patri Guijarro and the Polish striker Ewa Pajor.