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From Cape Verde hero Vozinha to eight-time winner Lionel Messi, experience and longevity shine bright across this year's shortlist.

Ousmane Dembélé scored twice and assisted two more while Ferran Torres bagged a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain brushed aside Slovan Bratislava in their Champions League opener.

Find out which nominees in this year’s edition have received the most nominations for the Ballon d'Or in history. Lionel Messi tops the ranking.

Flamengo’s players, manager and director of football celebrated the club’s nomination for the Men’s Club of the year award at the Ballon d’Or and highlighted the significance of this recognition.

A hero of Cape Verde’s historic campaign at the 2026 World Cup, Vozinha has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or Goalkeeper of the Season award and has shared a moving message about his career.

Nominated for the ‘Men’s Club of the year’ award by the Ballon d’Or, Flamengo was recognised for a period characterised by titles, continental success and consistent performance between August 2025 and July 2026.

Seven footballers received their first nomination for the world’s most prestigious individual award in 2026. Find out who they are.

Find out the official list of the 30 footballers in the running for the trophy and which teams dominate the nominations following a gruelling season at the very top of the game.

Check all the names of the Ballon d'Or nominees...

Learn about the 2026 nominees for the Men's Ballon d'Or

Nominated for the prestigious 2026 Ballon d'Or, Scotland captain Caroline Weir opens a new chapter with French powerhouse OL Lyonnes, bringing world-class technique and quiet leadership to the French champions.

A winner of the Socrates Award and once again nominated for the Socrates Award, Vinícius Júnior has turned the pain of the racist incidents he has faced into a cause that extends far beyond the world of football. His courage has helped to inspire change in sport and society, building a legacy that goes far beyond goals, titles and awards.

Nominated for the Ballon d’or for the fifth time in 2026, Vinícius Júnior has already turned his statistics for Real Madrid into a remarkable story, but the Brazilian star is still far from resting on his laurels.

Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, Vitinha has been making a name for himself as one of the world’s top midfielders. As well as the titles he has won with PSG, the statistics highlight one of his key qualities: his impressive passing ability.

Vitinha has gone from a player who couldn’t break into the first team at Wolves to a key player in a dominant PSG side and one of the biggest names in world football. He has just received his second nomination for the Ballon d’Or award, and his career continues to go from strength to strength. Let’s take a look back to understand how he got to where he is today.

Signed as a raw teen, a series of loans were designed to aid William Saliba’s development but frustration was growing in North London among the fans. At this juncture a fellow professional spoke up….

A severe childhood stammer left the Bayern and French defender afraid to speak. Now he bosses the world’s elite around on the pitch….

From humble beginnings to World Cup heroics, Dayot Upamecano’s journey has been aptly fit for royalty.

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, nominated for the Ballon d’Or award for the second time, dazzled the world with an astonishing record. Find out more.

From missing out on Qatar to triumphing at the 2026 World Cup: a technical analysis of the footballer who turned tactical generosity into his greatest weapon.