Six centre-backs in the running for the Ballon d’Or

The 2026 ‘Ballon d’Or’ ceremony is fast approaching.

Among the 30 nominees for this year’s men’s award are, of course, many of the season’s most creative and decisive forwards – those who know how to dribble past defenders and find the back of the net.

But the award exists to celebrate the best players across all areas of the pitch, and no team is complete without a solid defence.

Among this year’s 30 nominees, six are centre-backs.

Centre-backs nominated for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or:

  • Dayot Upamecano (27) – Bayern Munich / France

  • Gabriel Magalhães (aged 28) – Arsenal / Brazil

  • Marquinhos (aged 32) – Paris Saint-Germain / Brazil

  • Pau Cubarsí (aged 19) – Barcelona / Spain

  • William Saliba (aged 25) – Arsenal / France

  • Willian Pacho (aged 24) – Paris Saint-Germain / Ecuador

And, despite being defenders, the season’s statistics show that they excelled in all areas of the pitch.

To illustrate this, we analysed the data from all official matches played by the six centre-backs during the period covered by the 2026 Ballon d’Or, both for their clubs and their national teams. We have broadened this scope slightly to include the entire 2026 World Cup.

Protecting the goal: their strong point

Naturally, the statistics that best illustrate the efficiency of the centre-backs in question are the defensive ones.

When analysing the defensive statistics from last season’s official matches, we see that the six centre-backs racked up an impressive 2,138 defensive actions.

This total includes more specific figures, such as 447 tackles and 1,158 ball recoveries.

This commitment to protecting the goal at all costs was fundamental to these players’ success during the season and also contributed to a total of 123 clean sheets.

Moving forward with the ball: they don’t just sit back in defence

The six centre-backs nominated for this year’s ‘Ballon d’Or’ award do not simply sit back and protect their own goal. They also know how to carry the ball forward and link up with the midfielders to help the team build from the back.

This is evident in the 20,078 successful passes they completed throughout the season, always seeking to maintain possession, keep the ball moving and dictate the pace of matches.

Offensive firepower: a weapon that can catch opponents off guard

Of course, a centre-back’s main role is to defend when the opposition are trying to score… but sometimes, they can also make a difference in attack.

It is a weapon that this year’s six nominees have at their disposal, biding their time to catch opponents off guard and test the goalkeepers.

In total, the six centre-backs were involved in 24 goals last season: 12 goals scored and 12 assists.

Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães stands out particularly in this regard, leading the six centre-backs in both goals and assists this season.

Titles won: the crowning glory of great achievements

Such consistent performances across all areas of the pitch do not go unnoticed and rarely end without a trophy to crown such quality.

The six centre-backs nominated for this year’s ‘Ballon d’Or’ have lifted several trophies in recognition of their outstanding seasons, amassing 12 titles in total.

Trophies won by the centre-backs nominated for the ‘Ballon d’Or’ last season:

  • 13 August 2025: Marquinhos and Willian Pacho win the 2025 UEFA Super Cup with Paris Saint-Germain

  • 16 August 2025: Dayot Upamecano wins the 2025 German Super Cup (Franz Beckenbauer) with Bayern Munich

  • 17 December 2025: Marquinhos and Willian Pacho win the 2025 FIFA Intercontinental Cup with Paris Saint-Germain

  • 8 January 2026: Marquinhos and Willian Pacho win the 2025 Trophée des Champions with Paris Saint-Germain

  • 11 January 2026: Pau Cubarsí wins the 2026 Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona

  • 19 April 2026: Dayot Upamecano wins the 2025–26 Bundesliga with Bayern Munich

  • 10 May 2026: Pau Cubarsí wins the 2025–26 La Liga title with Barcelona

  • 13 May 2026: Marquinhos and Willian Pacho win the 2025–26 Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain

  • 19 May 2026: Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba win the 2025–26 Premier League with Arsenal

  • 23 May 2026: Dayot Upamecano wins the 2025–26 German Cup (DFB-Pokal) with Bayern Munich

  • 30 May 2026: Marquinhos and Willian Pacho win the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain

  • 19 July 2026: Pau Cubarsí wins the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain

Could a centre-back win the ‘Ballon d’Or’ award again?

So there you have it: these were the incredible seasons enjoyed by each of the six centre-backs nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

The last defender to win the award was Fabio Cannavaro, in 2006.

Although more attacking players tend to have the edge, could a centre-back this year end a two-decade wait and lift football’s most coveted individual trophy?

The answer will be revealed on 26 October in London.