Messi, Mbappé and Rodri nominated for Ballon d’Or, while Bonmatí misses out

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri and Ousmane Dembélé headline the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or. The women’s list, meanwhile, does not include Aitana Bonmatí, who won the award in the previous three editions.

Spain led the nominations in both sections, with six players in each. Barcelona teammates Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí received double nominations, appearing among the candidates for both young talent and the best player award. Paris Saint-Germain supplied nine of the men’s nominees, while Barcelona led the women’s club nominations with eight.

The list included first-time nominees such as Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho of PSG and Mexican forward Julián Quiñones of Saudi club Al-Qadsiah. Colombia’s Luis Díaz, now with Bayern Munich, received his second nomination. Mexico’s Scarlett Camberos and Brazil’s Lorena Leite also represented Latin America in the women’s nominations.

Spain’s men’s nominees also included Fabián Ruiz, Marc Cucurella and Ferran Torres. France contributed five players, Portugal four, and Brazil, England and Argentina each had three. Other prominent nominees included Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Erling Haaland, Sadio Mané and Achraf Hakimi.

Messi, 39, is seeking a ninth Ballon d’Or after winning in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has won five, was not nominated. The winners will be announced in London on Oct. 26.