Ballon d’Or 2026: Only two African players make women’s top 30 nominees [FULL LIST]

France Football has released the 30-man nominee shortlist for both the men's and women's Ballon d'Or awards. The women's list includes Mariona Caldentey from Arsenal, Wendie Renard from Lyon, Alex Greenwood from Manchester City, Ewa Pajor from Barcelona, and Alexia Putellas from the London City Lionesses. The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26.

For the men's category, the nominees are Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, Pau Cubarsi from Barcelona, Marc Cucurella from Real Madrid, Ousmane Dembele from PSG, Luis Diaz from Bayern Munich, Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United, Erling Haaland from Manchester City, Gabriel from Arsenal, Harry Kane from Bayern Munich, Achraf Hakimi from PSG, Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from PSG, Marquinhos from PSG, Sadio Mane from Al Nassr, Lautaro Martinez from Inter, Kylian Mbappe from Real Madrid, Nuno Mendes from PSG, Lionel Messi from Inter Miami, Michael Olise from Bayern Munich, Joao Neves from PSG, William Pacho from PSG, Julian Quinones from Al Quadisa, Declan Rice from Arsenal, Rodri from Barcelona, Ferran Torres from PSG, Fabian Ruiz from PSG, William Saliba from Arsenal, Dayot Upamecano from Bayern Munich, Vinicius Jnr from Real Madrid, and Vitinha from PSG.