Sadio Mané named among Ballon d'Or 2026 nominees

Sadio Mané is back among football’s elite after being included in the 30-player Ballon d’Or 2026 shortlist. The nomination ends a four-year absence and marks his fifth appearance among the contenders. He remains the most successful Senegalese candidate, having finished second to Karim Benzema in 2022.

The list was released on Tuesday, with the award ceremony scheduled for 26 October in London. Mané’s case was strengthened by Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph over Morocco after extra time. He scored twice and supplied three assists across seven matches. He was initially named the tournament’s best player, although a CAF appeals jury reassigned that award to Morocco in March.

His club season also contributed to the nomination. Mané scored 14 goals and created nine more in 36 matches across all competitions for Al-Nassr. In the Saudi league, he registered 10 goals and six assists in 25 appearances as the Riyadh club won its first domestic championship in seven years. The Senegal forward is one of only two Africans on the 2026 list, alongside Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. The final winner will be chosen by an international journalists’ panel.