Messi, Mbappé and Rodri lead 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Rodri headline the 30-player list of candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, alongside 2025 winner Ousmane Dembélé and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal.

Messi, 39, is seeking a ninth award after winning the prize in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Another victory would strengthen his standing in the debate over football’s greatest player, while extending his lead over Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won the award five times.

The Inter Miami forward led Argentina to the World Cup final against Spain, which Argentina lost 1-0. He still made a major impact in the tournament, scoring eight goals and supplying four assists.

Mbappé, 27, arrives among the leading contenders after finishing as the 2026 World Cup’s top scorer. He scored 10 goals in eight matches, taking his career World Cup total to 22, described in the article as the highest in the competition’s history. He is due to learn whether he has won the award on October 26.

During the 2025-26 season, Mbappé scored 58 goals and provided 13 assists in 60 matches. Messi scored 45 times and recorded 30 assists in 49 appearances. Rodri, 30, led Spain to its second World Cup title and had already won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 after moving to Barcelona.