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Kane, Mbappé lead 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist

ESPN Tuesday 08 September 2026, 16:00 UTC By ESPN 2 min read
Key Points

Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among the leading names on the 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist after the nominees for football's most prestigious individual prize were revealed on Tuesday. Kane's inclusion comes after a prolific season for Bayern Munich and England, while Barcelona star Yamal and Real Madrid forward Mbappé have also made the cut following standout campaigns for club and country. The three are joined by a host of the game's biggest names on the shortlist, with the...

Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are among the leading names on the 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist after the nominees for football's most prestigious individual prize were revealed on Tuesday. Kane's inclusion comes after a prolific season for Bayern Munich and England, while Barcelona star Yamal and Real Madrid forward Mbappé have also made the cut following standout campaigns for club and country. The three are joined by a host of the game's biggest names on the shortlist, with the winner set to be crowned at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in London on Oct. 26. Lionel Messi has been nominated for the first time since 2023, when he scooped the award for the eighth time after his move to Inter Miami. Paris Saint-Germain have some 10 nominees on the list, by far the most of any single club -- eclipsing the seven nominees from LaLiga, and four from the Premier League. Rodri is once again on the shortlist after taking the award in 2024, joining his new Barcelona teammates Yamal and Pau Cubarsí. The European champions are favourites for the men's club of the year awards after winning the double, with Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo and Bodo/Glimt also nominated. Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente and Unai Emery have been nominated for men's coach of the year, while Vozinha has been nominated for goalkeeper of the year for his World Cup heroics. Lamine Yamal is among 10 starlets in the running for young talent of the year. Men's Ballon d'Or nominees: Complete shortlists Ballon d'Or: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, João Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Jr., Vitinha Young Talent of the Year: Kerim Alajbegović, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Pau Cubarsí, Yan Diomandé, Lennart Karl, Éli Junior Kroupi, Lamine Yamal, Johan Manzambi, Ibrahim Maza, Warren Zaïre-Emery Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou, Thibaut Courtois, Joan García, Gregor Kobel, Emiliano Martínez, Édouard Mendy, David Raya, Matvey Safonov, Vozinha, Unai Simón Manager of the Year: Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery Club of the Year: Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo, Bodo/Glimt
Kane (PERSON) Mbappé (ORG) Ballon d'Or (ORG) Harry Kane (PERSON) Lamine Yamal (ORG) Kylian Mbappé (PERSON) Bayern Munich (ORG) England (LOCATION) Barcelona (LOCATION) Yamal (PERSON) Real Madrid (ORG) London (LOCATION) Lionel Messi (PERSON) Inter Miami (LOCATION) Paris Saint-Germain (LOCATION)
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