Ballon d'Or 2026 nominees announced in full as two players from surprise league make final cut

The full list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or and Ballon d'Or Feminin awards have been revealed - with a number of surprise inclusions in both categories.

Harry Kane is the odds-on favourite to win the award after scoring 72 goals in all competitions for Bayern Munich.

Spain's World Cup win has propelled Lamine Yamal into contention in some quarters, while PSG star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a superb season in helping his side to win the Champions League.

On the women's side, there will be a different winner for the first time since 2022 as reigning three-time holder Aitana Bonmati has not been nominated after an injury-hit season.

Ballon d'Or 2026 nominees in full

There are a number of surprises in the men's award nominations, with Mexico striker Julian Quinones nominated for the award for the first time in the career.

The 29-year-old, who scored four goals at the World Cup and plays his club football for Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah, is the second Mexican to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or after goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa in 2010.

Former Liverpool winger Sadio Mane has also been chosen.

Yamal, Kane, Kvaratskhelia and Kylian Mbappe are among the main favourites to win the award.

Lamine Yamal is in contention to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or (Image: Getty)

• Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
• Pau Cubarsi (FC Barcelona)
• Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid)
• Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich)
• Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
• Gabriel (Arsenal)
• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
• Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
• Khvicha Kvaratshkelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona)
• Sadio Mane (Al Nassr)
• Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
• Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
• Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
• Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
• Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain)
• Julian Quinones (Al Qadsiah)
• Declan Rice (Arsenal)
• Rodri (Manchester City/FC Barcelona)
• Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
• William Saliba (Arsenal)
• Ferran Torres (FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)
• Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
• Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
• Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)

Ballon d'Or Feminin 2026 nominees in full

New London City captain Alexia Putellas leads the nominees for the women's award, having won it twice in 2021 and 2022 while playing for Barcelona.

Barca midfielder Patri Guijarro and striker Ewa Pajor - who, alongside Putellas, played key roles in their club's Champions League success - are also among the leading contenders, alongside Arsenal's Alessia Russo and the Manchester City duo of Bunny Shaw and Yui Hasegawa.

The official Ballon d'Or website appeared to inadvertently release some women's nominees early, with Guijarro, Pajor and Shaw all announced prior to 10am before being quickly deleted.

• Selma Bacha (OL Lyonnes)
• Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride)
• Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich)
• Esmee Brugts (FC Barcelona)
• Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal)
• Scarlett Camberos (Club America)
• Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City)
• Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current)
• Cata Coll (FC Barcelona)
• Melchie Dumornay (OL Lyonnes)
• Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona)
• Alex Greenwood (Manchester City)
• Patri Guijarro (FC Barcelona)
• Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich)
• Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City)
• Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC)
• Mapi Leon (FC Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
• Lorena (Kansas City Current)
• Melvine Malard (Manchester United/Chelsea)
• Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina Courage/Chelsea)
• Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City)
• Ewa Pajor (FC Barcelona)
• Claudia Pina (FC Barcelona)
• Alexia Putellas (FC Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
• Wendie Renard (OL Lyonnes)
• Alessia Russo (Arsenal)
• Bunny Shaw (Manchester City)
• Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich)
• Caroline Weir (Real Madrid/OL Lyonnes)
• Tessa Wullaert (Inter Milan/Como)

Other 2026 Ballon d'Or award nominations

Alongside the main award announcements, there were also nominations made for Men's and Women's Club of the Year, Young Talent of the Year and Coach of the Year among others.

Champions League finalists Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are nominated for Men's Club of the Year, along with Flamengo, Bodo/Glimt and Bayern Munich.

Women's Super League winners Manchester City are nominated in the women's category, along with Champions League winners Barcelona, Club Monterrey, OL Lyonnes and Bayern Munich.

Mikel Arteta and Luis Enrique are among the contenders to win the Men's Coach of the Year, along with Spain's World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente.

Barcelona's Vicky Lopez and Clara Serrajordi are nominated in the Women's Young Talent category, with Chelsea's Veerle Buurman the sole WSL representative.

For the men's award, Yan Diomande, Lamine Yamal, Lennart Karl and Warren Zaire-Emery have all been nominated. Aston Villa's Johan Manzambi, Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi and Manchester City's Ayyoub Bouaddi are the Premier League representatives.