The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony has concluded, and football fans are eager to see which players and teams will claim the sport’s most prestigious individual honor. After Spain’s victory at the 2026 World Cup and its players dominating many subsequent awards, the Ballon d’Or remains the top individual prize for outstanding footballers. This year, Spanish players are again in the spotlight, with at least six men and women nominated across various categories. Notably, Lamine Yamal is vying for two Ballon d’Ors, having earned two major nominations. The ceremony took place in London on October 26. Read on for the full list of nominees and the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner.
2026 Ballon d’Or Winners and Nominees
Men’s Ballon d’Or™ Nominees
The Men’s Ballon d’Or™ nominees are:
Winner: Lamine Yamal – FC Barcelona forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 winner.
- Jude Bellingham – Real Madrid midfielder, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Pau Cubarsí – FC Barcelona defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Marc Cucurella – Chelsea/Real Madrid defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Ousmane Dembélé – Paris Saint-Germain forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Luis Díaz – Bayern Munich forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United midfielder, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Gabriel – Arsenal defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Erling Haaland – Manchester City forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Achraf Hakimi – Paris Saint-Germain defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Harry Kane – Bayern Munich forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – Paris Saint-Germain forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Sadio Mané – Al-Nassr forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Marquinhos – Paris Saint-Germain defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Lautaro Martínez – Inter Milan forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Kylian Mbappé – Real Madrid forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Nuno Mendes – Paris Saint-Germain defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Lionel Messi – Inter Miami forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- João Neves – Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Michael Olise – Bayern Munich forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Willian Pacho – Paris Saint-Germain defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Julián Quiñones – Al-Qadsiah forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Declan Rice – Arsenal midfielder, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Rodri – Manchester City/FC Barcelona midfielder, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Fabián Ruiz – Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- William Saliba – Arsenal defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Ferran Torres – FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Dayot Upamecano – Bayern Munich defender, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Vinícius Júnior – Real Madrid forward, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Vitinha – Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Men’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
Women’s Ballon d’Or™ Nominees
Discover all the nominees for the 2026 Women’s Ballon d’Or™.
Winner: Alexia Putellas – Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 winner.
- Selma Bacha – OL Lyonnes defender, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Barbra Banda – Orlando Pride forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Klara Bühl – Bayern Munich forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Esmee Brugts – FC Barcelona defender, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Mariona Caldentey – Arsenal forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Scarlett Camberos – Club América forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Kerstin Casparij – Manchester City defender, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Temwa Chawinga – Kansas City Current forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Cata Coll – FC Barcelona goalkeeper, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Melchie Dumornay – OL Lyonnes forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Caroline Graham Hansen – FC Barcelona forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Alex Greenwood – Manchester City defender, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Patri Guijarro – FC Barcelona midfielder, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Pernille Harder – Bayern Munich forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Yui Hasegawa – Manchester City midfielder, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Rose Lavelle – Gotham FC midfielder, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Mapi León – FC Barcelona defender, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Lorena – Kansas City Current goalkeeper, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Melvine Malard – Manchester United forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Manaka Matsukubo – North Carolina Courage midfielder, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Vivianne Miedema – Manchester City forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Ewa Pajor – FC Barcelona forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Clàudia Pina – FC Barcelona forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Wendie Renard – OL Lyonnes defender, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Alessia Russo – Arsenal forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Khadija Shaw – Manchester City forward, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Momoko Tanikawa – Bayern Munich midfielder, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Caroline Weir – Real Madrid midfielder, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
- Tessa Wullaert – Inter midfielder, Women’s Ballon d’Or 2026 nominee
Note: Verify the complete women’s shortlist and winner against the official rankings before publication.
Men’s Kopa Trophy: Young Player of the Year
The Men’s Kopa Trophy recognises the best young male footballer.
Winner: Lamine Yamal – FC Barcelona forward, Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 winner.
- Kerim Alajbegović – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Ayyoub Bouaddi – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Pau Cubarsí – FC Barcelona defender, Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Yan Diomandé – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Lennart Karl – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Éli Junior Kroupi – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Johan Manzambi – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Ibrahim Maza – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Warren Zaïre-Emery – Men’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
Women’s Kopa Trophy: Young Player of the Year
The Women’s Kopa Trophy recognises outstanding young female footballers.
Winner: Vicky López – FC Barcelona midfielder, Women’s Kopa Trophy 2026 winner.
- Vicky López – FC Barcelona midfielder, Women’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Veerle Buurman – Women’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Clara Serrajordi – FC Barcelona midfielder, Women’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Lily Yohannes – Women’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
- Felicia Schröder – Women’s Kopa Trophy 2026 nominee
Men’s Yashin Trophy: Goalkeeper of the Year
The Men’s Yashin Trophy recognises the best male goalkeeper.
Winner: Unai Simón – Athletic Club goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 winner.
- Unai Simón – Athletic Club goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Yassine Bounou – Al-Hilal goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Thibaut Courtois – Real Madrid goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Joan García – FC Barcelona goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Gregor Kobel – Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Emiliano Martínez – Aston Villa goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Édouard Mendy – Al-Ahli goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- David Raya – Arsenal goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Matvei Safonov – Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Vozinha – Men’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
Women’s Yashin Trophy: Goalkeeper of the Year
The Women’s Yashin Trophy recognises the best female goalkeeper.
Winner: Cata Coll – FC Barcelona goalkeeper, Women’s Yashin Trophy 2026 winner.
- Ann-Katrin Berger – Gotham FC goalkeeper, Women’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Cata Coll – FC Barcelona goalkeeper, Women’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Hannah Hampton – Chelsea goalkeeper, Women’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Lorena – Kansas City Current goalkeeper, Women’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
- Ayaka Yamashita – Manchester City goalkeeper, Women’s Yashin Trophy 2026 nominee
Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Coach of the Year
The Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy recognises the best men’s football coach.
Winner: Luis de la Fuente – Spain national team head coach, Men’s Coach of the Year 2026 winner.
- Mikel Arteta – Arsenal head coach, Men’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Unai Emery – Aston Villa head coach, Men’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Vincent Kompany – Bayern Munich head coach, Men’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Luis Enrique – Paris Saint-Germain head coach, Men’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Luis de la Fuente – Spain national team head coach, Men’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Coach of the Year
The Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy recognises the best women’s football coach.
Winner: Pere Romeu – FC Barcelona head coach, Women’s Coach of the Year 2026 winner.
- Pere Romeu – FC Barcelona head coach, Women’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Jonatan Giráldez – Women’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Andrée Jeglertz – Women’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Nils Nielsen – Women’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
- Elena Sadiku – Women’s Coach of the Year 2026 nominee
Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy: Striker of the Year
The Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy recognises outstanding goalscoring achievements.
Winner: Harry Kane – Bayern Munich forward, Men’s Striker of the Year 2026 winner.
Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy: Striker of the Year
The Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy recognises outstanding goalscoring achievements in women’s football.
Winner: Charlyn Corral – Women’s Striker of the Year 2026 winner.
Men’s Club of the Year
The Men’s Club of the Year award recognises the outstanding men’s football club of the season.
Winner: Paris Saint-Germain – Men’s Club of the Year 2026 winner.
- Arsenal – Men’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- Bayern Munich – Men’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- Bodø/Glimt – Men’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- Flamengo – Men’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- Paris Saint-Germain – Men’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
Women’s Club of the Year
The Women’s Club of the Year award recognises the outstanding women’s football club of the season.
Winner: Barcelona – Women’s Club of the Year 2026 winner.
- Barcelona – Women’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- Bayern Munich – Women’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- Club América – Women’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- Manchester City – Women’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
- OL Lyonnes – Women’s Club of the Year 2026 nominee
Sócrates Award 2026
The Sócrates Award recognises humanitarian and social-impact contributions by footballers.
Winner:
2026 Ballon d’Or: Full List of Winners
- Men’s Ballon d’Or: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Women’s Ballon d’Or: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City Lionesses)
- Men’s Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
- Women’s Kopa Trophy: Vicky López (Barcelona)
- Men’s Yashin Trophy: Unai Simón (Athletic Club)
- Women’s Yashin Trophy: Cata Coll (Barcelona)
- Men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Luis de la Fuente (Spain national team)
- Women’s Johan Cruyff Trophy: Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
- Men’s Gerd Müller Trophy: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- Women’s Gerd Müller Trophy: Charlyn Corral (Pachuca)
- Men’s Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
- Women’s Club of the Year: FC Barcelona Femení
- Sócrates Award: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Mariam Emily Adama is a copywriter, SEO strategist, and digital marketer passionate about using words to inform, inspire, and influence. With over seven years of experience writing for global brands and managing digital campaigns, she brings a data-driven yet creative approach to content creation. When she’s not writing or analyzing trends, Mariam enjoys exploring new cultures, reading, and documenting stories that celebrate African excellence.