Ballon d’Or 2026: Nominees, favourites, ceremony date and how to watch
The 2026 Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on Monday night at a glittering ceremony in London. The 70th staging of the event will be the first to be held outside of France, with it moving to England as a tribute to Stanley Matthews, who won the first ever Ballon d'Or in 1956. With Harry Kane among the favourites for the men's award, that choice of location could yet prove to be particularly…
The 70th Ballon d'Or awards ceremony, set to take place on Monday, October 26 at the London Palladium Theatre, will honor the best players, coaches and clubs from the 2025 season. This marks the first time the prestigious event is being held outside of France, in tribute to Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d'Or winner in 1956.
Among the favorites for the men's award is Harry Kane, who competes with Spanish star Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich teammate Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe, and other Paris Saint-Germain players. France and Europe's champion clubs feature among the 30 nominees on the shortlist. Lionel Messi, despite his stellar World Cup performances, is considered an outsider due to his club allegiance in the US while Cristiano Ronaldo, his fierce rival, is notably absent from the list.
The prestigious accolade, now a collaboration between UEFA, France Football, and L'Equipe, was originally established in 1956 to recognize the world's top male footballer. Since then, it has evolved, honoring female players, coaches, clubs, top scorers, goalkeepers, young players, and humanitarian efforts as well. The award is determined by an international jury of journalists, with each member casting votes based on performances, character, team achievements, and class and fair play.
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