The Ballon d'Or 2026 will be awarded on Monday, October 26 at the London Palladium, the first time the ceremony is held in that city, according to [UEFA](https://es.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/02a9-218b0cc542bf-db998789d922-1000--revelados-los-nominados-a-los-premios-balon-de-oro-2026/). It is the 70th-anniversary edition of the award, created by France Football magazine in 1956 and co-organized with UEFA since 2024. The list of 30 nominees was announced on September 8 and includes Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane and Rodri.
The award covers the season from August 3, 2025 to July 19, 2026, the day of the World Cup final, according to La Nación. This is what is known about the ceremony, the nominees and the favorites.
When and where is the Ballon d'Or 2026
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, October 26, 2026 |
| Venue | London Palladium, London |
| Time in Mexico | 1 p.m., according to Fox Sports Mexico |
| Time in Peru and Colombia | 2 p.m. (conversion) |
| Time in Chile and Argentina | 4 p.m. (conversion) |
| Time in London | 7 p.m. (conversion) |
| Time in Spain | 8 p.m. (conversion) |
| Expected broadcast in Mexico | DAZN, according to Fox Sports Mexico |
The Mexico time was reported by Fox Sports Mexico; the others are our conversions. The UK and Spain return to winter time on Sunday, October 25, the day before the ceremony. It is worth confirming the time and local broadcast during the week of the event.
The 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or 2026
| Player | Country | Club listed by UEFA |
|---|---|---|
| Jude Bellingham | England | Real Madrid |
| Pau Cubarsí | Spain | Barcelona |
| Marc Cucurella | Spain | Chelsea / Real Madrid |
| Ousmane Dembélé | France | PSG |
| Luis Díaz | Colombia | Bayern Munich |
| Bruno Fernandes | Portugal | Manchester United |
| Gabriel | Brazil | Arsenal |
| Erling Haaland | Norway | Manchester City |
| Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | PSG |
| Harry Kane | England | Bayern Munich |
| Khvicha Kvaratskhelia | Georgia | PSG |
| Lamine Yamal | Spain | Barcelona |
| Sadio Mané | Senegal | Al-Nassr |
| Marquinhos | Brazil | PSG |
| Lautaro Martínez | Argentina | Inter |
| Kylian Mbappé | France | Real Madrid |
| Nuno Mendes | Portugal | PSG |
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | Inter Miami |
| João Neves | Portugal | PSG |
| Michael Olise | France | Bayern Munich |
| Willian Pacho | Ecuador | PSG |
| Julián Quiñones | Mexico | Al-Qadsiah |
| Declan Rice | England | Arsenal |
| Rodri | Spain | Manchester City / Barcelona |
| Fabián Ruiz | Spain | PSG |
| William Saliba | France | Arsenal |
| Ferran Torres | Spain | Barcelona / PSG |
| Dayot Upamecano | France | Bayern Munich |
| Vinícius Júnior | Brazil | Real Madrid |
| Vitinha | Portugal | PSG |
Clubs with two names refer to players who changed teams during or after the season under review, as listed by UEFA. PSG, the 2025-26 Champions League winners after beating Arsenal in the final in Budapest on May 30, according to Wikipedia, is the club with the most nominees: nine players listed only with PSG.
The favorites for the Ballon d'Or 2026
Two weeks before the ceremony, La Nación ranked the main contenders as follows, based on forecasts and betting. The jury does not publish its votes before the ceremony, so this is a reference, not a result.
| Rank | Player | 2025-26 season |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Kane (Bayern Munich, England) | Bundesliga champion and top scorer with 36 goals in 31 games; knocked out in the World Cup semifinals |
| 2 | Lamine Yamal (Barcelona, Spain) | World champion with Spain and key to the LaLiga title; knocked out in the Champions League quarterfinals |
| 3 | Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, France) | World Cup top scorer and Golden Boot; a modest season with his club |
| 4 | Lionel Messi (Inter Miami, Argentina) | World Cup 2026 runner-up with Argentina; has eight Ballons d'Or |
| 5 | Rodri (Manchester City / Barcelona, Spain) | World champion and player of the tournament; not at his best at City |
The 2025 winner was Ousmane Dembélé, who is on the list again. The full list of winners since 1956 is in Ballon d'Or winners year by year.
The Latin American nominees
- Argentina: Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez.
- Brazil: Vinícius Júnior, Marquinhos and Gabriel.
- Colombia: Luis Díaz.
- Ecuador: Willian Pacho.
- Mexico: Julián Quiñones, of Saudi club Al-Qadsiah. In the women's award, Scarlett Camberos of Club América, which is also nominated for best women's club.
- Chile: no Chilean players are nominated, but Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha, whom UEFA lists as a Chaves and Colo-Colo player, is among the ten candidates for best goalkeeper.
The other categories
| Award | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Best goalkeeper | Bounou, Courtois, Joan García, Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Mendy, Raya, Safonov, Unai Simón and Vozinha |
| Best coach | Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique |
| Best men's club | Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and PSG |
| Best women's club | Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club América, Manchester City and OL Lyonnes |
| Women's Ballon d'Or | 30 nominees, including Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor, Alessia Russo and Caroline Graham Hansen |
How many Ballons d'Or the nominees have
Only three of the 30 nominees have already won the award. Messi is the all-time leader; Rodri and Dembélé won the two previous editions, according to France Football's roll of honor.
| Player | Ballons d'Or | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | 8 | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023 |
| Rodri | 1 | 2024 |
| Ousmane Dembélé | 1 | 2025 |
| The other 27 nominees | 0 | — |
If Kane, Lamine Yamal or Mbappé win, it would be their first Ballon d'Or. Lamine Yamal, at 19, would be one of the youngest winners in history. A win for Messi at 39 would make him the oldest winner since Stanley Matthews, the first recipient, in 1956.
How the jury votes
One hundred journalists vote, one from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA ranking, according to La Nación. Each ranks their favorites and the points are added up. The criteria are individual and team performance over the season, plus class and fair play. That is why a World Cup weighs so much: the July 19 final closes the period under review.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Ballon d'Or 2026?
On Monday, October 26, 2026 at the London Palladium in London.
What time is the ceremony?
At 1 p.m. Mexico time, according to Fox Sports Mexico. By conversion, 2 p.m. in Peru and Colombia and 4 p.m. in Chile and Argentina.
Who is the favorite for the Ballon d'Or 2026?
According to La Nación, Harry Kane leads the forecasts, followed by Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Rodri.
Is Messi nominated?
Yes. He led Argentina to runner-up at the 2026 World Cup and is chasing his ninth Ballon d'Or.
Who won the Ballon d'Or 2025?
Ousmane Dembélé, of PSG.
