Semenyo, Raphinha miss out as 2026 Ballon d’Or 30-man shortlist

The 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has been announced, featuring numerous top football stars vying for the prestigious individual award. Notably, Barcelona's Raphinha and Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo are absent from the list, despite their impressive performances during the assessment period. The nominees encompass a mix of seasoned stars, promising talents, and individuals who shone with their clubs and national teams.

Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé is a frontrunner, having contributed to PSG's triumph in the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and other major titles. He scored 26 goals and provided 14 assists in 51 matches. England captain Harry Kane leads the goal-scoring tally with 73 goals in 65 appearances for Bayern Munich, followed by Erling Haaland (58 goals) of Manchester City and Kylian Mbappé (58 goals) of Real Madrid.

Young Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, who played a crucial role in Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup victory, is another key nominee alongside Lionel Messi, who added 45 goals and 30 assists for Inter Miami. Additionally, Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, who contributed 27 goals and 35 assists, and several other high-profile players have secured their places on the shortlist.

The final list also includes several Spanish internationals who achieved significant success during the World Cup, such as Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, and Ferran Torres. As the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or intensifies, fans and pundits will closely monitor the performances of the leading contenders, including Dembélé's trophy haul, Kane and Haaland's record-breaking goal-scoring feats, Yamal's versatile contributions, and Messi's consistent individual brilliance.