Overview
- France Football published the full 30-player men's Ballon d'Or shortlist on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and confirmed the award ceremony will be held in London on October 26.
- Kylian Mbappé has amplified his case by saying he feels 2026 could be his year and by scoring in Real Madrid’s Champions League opener, moves that come after his record-breaking World Cup Golden Boot.
- The shortlist names a crowded field of contenders including defending winner Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal while Cristiano Ronaldo was notably omitted.
- Bookmakers currently list Harry Kane among the favourites after an exceptional 2025–26 season and observers note that voters will balance individual stats with major trophies when casting ballots.
- The Ballon d'Or vote covers performances from August 2025 through July 2026 and is decided by journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked countries who rank players primarily on individual impact, then team success and fair play.