The Argentine Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), the French Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) and the Spanish Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona), three of the figures from the last 2026 World Cup, are on the list of the 30 candidates for the Ballon d’Or, along with other names such as Ousmane Dembélé (winner of the distinction in 2025) and Lamine Yamal, Barcelona forward and world champion with Spain.
Rodri, 30, led the Spanish team to its second victory in the FIFA international competition. The new “Barza” midfielder has already won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Messi, 39, seeks to further establish himself as the best footballer in history if he wins his ninth Ballon d’Or, after those won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023, ahead of the five achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Argentine star led his “Albiceleste” team to the World Cup final against Spain, to which they lost 1-0. However, he stood out with 8 scores and 4 assists in the tournament.
Mbappé, 27, hopes to win the award he craves so much on October 26. The French striker established himself as the top scorer in the 2026 World Cup, with 10 goals in 8 games, which makes him the best scorer in the history of the world championships (22 goals in total).
In the 2025-2026 season, Bondy added 58 goals and 13 assists in 60 games, while Messi scored 45 times and gave 30 assists in 49 matches.
In lists dominated by the Spanish men’s and women’s teams (6 representatives each), the double nominations of the Spaniards Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí also stand out, both from Barcelona and candidates for young talent and best player in the world.
At the club level, PSG of France was the majority in the men’s section (9 nominees) and Barcelona, in the women’s section, with 8.
Among the new additions this year are Ecuadorian defender Willian Pacho, from PSG, and Mexican striker Julián Quiñones, from Saudi Al-Qadsiah, nominated for the Ballon d’Or for the first time.
Another Latino who appears among the best is the Colombian Luis Díaz, from Bayern Munich, in what was his second nomination.
Meanwhile, on the women’s list, the Latin American presence of the Mexican Scarlett Camberos (Club América) and the Brazilian Lorena Leite (Kansas City) also stands out.
The winners of the Ballon d’Or in all categories will be announced next Monday, October 26, at a gala in London. What is certain is that there will not be a goalkeeper in the 2026 edition, a milestone in the history of the award. Before, only in 1967 and 1968 there was no finalist goalkeeper.
In the men, Spain, world champion, also contributed Fabián Ruiz (world champion with his team and European champion with PSG), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid) and Ferrán Torres (Barcelona/PSG), scorer of the winning goal against Argentina. A total of 6 players on the final roster.
In addition to Mbappé and Dembélé, France contributed with Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), William Saliba (Arsenal) and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), 5 in total; Portugal with its PSG trio (Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes) plus Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United).
Brazil is represented by Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid), defender Gabriel (Arsenal) and Marquinhos (PSG), while England has Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) and Declan Rice (Arsenal).
For Argentina, in addition to Messi, there is Lautaro Martínez, Inter Milan forward.
Other names with possibilities are the Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (European champion with PSG) and the Norwegian Erling Haaland (Manchester City).
From Africa, the Senegalese Sadio Mané, from the Saudi Al-Nassr, and the Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi (PSG) are candidates.
Without Bonmati but with Putellas
The Spanish Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona), winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was left out of the list of 30 nominees, which does include her compatriot Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses), winner of the award in 2021 and 2022.
In a list dominated by Barza players -8 in total-, other favorites are the Polish forward of the Catalan team Ewa Pajor and the Haitian attacker of Olympique Lyon Melchie Dumornay.
The Spanish contingent includes goalkeeper Cata Coll, Claudia Pina and Patri Guijarro, all from Barcelona. Another Spanish nominee is Mariona Caldentey, from Arsenal, and also Mapi León (Barcelona/London City Lionesses).
