Overview
- France Football published the official 30-player Ballon d'Or shortlist on Tuesday, September 8, starting the formal run-up to the award and prompting widespread media reaction.
- Lionel Messi earned a 17th nomination and became the first player nominated across a 20-year span from 2006 to 2026, underscoring his sustained elite impact.
- Cristiano Ronaldo was left off the shortlist again, marking his fourth consecutive omission and leaving other Portugal players to represent the national contingent.
- Paris Saint‑Germain placed nine players on the list and Spain supplied six nominees, while the shortlist also included two players from the Saudi Roshn League, Sadio Mané and Julián Quiñones.
- Voting by national journalists is pending and the winner will be announced at the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony at the London Palladium on October 26, with clubs, managers and pundits already staking out picks that could shape final votes.