Ballon d’Or 2026: Sadio Mané included in 30-player shortlist

The 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or have been announced, with Sadio Mané the only African player included on the list. The Al-Nassr forward joins the world’s leading performers after helping his club win the Saudi Arabian championship. The award ceremony will take place in London on 26 October, with the race shaped by major international and club achievements from the 2025-26 season.

Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 winner, is among the nominees and will have the chance to defend his title. The Paris Saint-Germain attacker did not dominate the Champions League in the same way as he did during the previous campaign, but his second European triumph with the club keeps him in contention. PSG is the best-represented club on the list, with 10 players selected.

The Parisian group includes Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Vitinha, Dembélé, Ferran Torres, Nuno Mendes, Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. PSG’s presence reflects its second consecutive Champions League title. Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of the leading candidates after producing 10 goals and seven assists in 16 Champions League matches. He is the only nominee who did not take part in the 2026 World Cup.

Two PSG players who miss out are Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué. Barcola finished the decisive part of the season with two goals and four assists, while Doué recorded five goals and four assists in 13 matches. Their omissions contrast with the selection of Pacho, who was not nominated last year but is now part of the final 30. The list also contains several selections that have prompted particular attention, including the returns and first appearances among players from different leagues.

Spain has six representatives, making it the second most prominent national group. Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, Marc Cucurella, Pau Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal and Rodri are all included. Cucurella and Cubarsí have received their first Ballon d’Or nominations. Rodri is one of Kvaratskhelia’s main rivals after being named the best player at the 2026 World Cup. Ferran Torres is listed after a season that took him from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain.

Kylian Mbappé leads the French challenge alongside Michael Olise, Dayot Upamecano, Dembélé and William Saliba. Mbappé was the leading scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup. His World Cup campaign also took his total to 22 goals, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. He is competing against players with major collective titles, but his individual scoring record gives his candidacy a distinct basis.

Lionel Messi has also been nominated at the age of 39. The eight-time winner made the list for the 17th time after an excellent campaign in the United States, where he scored eight goals and reached the final. He did not win the 2026 World Cup, but his performances were enough to extend his record of appearances among the nominees. Sadio Mané and Mexico forward Julian Quiñones are among the selections that stand out beyond the leading favourites. Quiñones scored four goals at the World Cup and finished ninth in the tournament’s scoring standings.

Mané’s nomination gives Senegal a place in the principal individual award in world football and makes him the sole African representative among the 30 players. His Saudi Arabian championship is the clearest team achievement attached to his selection, while the final decision regarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations remains pending before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The ceremony in London will bring together a field led by the reigning winner, the leading performers from PSG’s European campaign, Rodri’s World Cup influence, Mbappé’s scoring record and Messi’s continued presence at the highest level.