Surprises and absences: Mbappé and Messi among the Ballon d'Or nominees as Ronaldo and Raphinha miss out
France Football has announced the 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees, featuring stars like Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi while excluding Cristiano Ronaldo. The ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London, marking the first time the event will be held outside of France.
Why it matters
The Ballon d'Or is the most prestigious individual award in professional football, and its nominations reflect the shifting landscape of global talent and league influence.
Surprises and absences: Mbappé and Messi among the Ballon d'Or contenders, Ronaldo and Raphinha out of the race Ballon d'Or K. Mbappe L. Messi C. Ronaldo M. Salah F. Ruiz E. Haaland O. Dembele L. Yamal France Argentina Portugal Egypt Spain Norway Roshn League duo make an appearance: world champions in control
French magazine "France Football", in collaboration with the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), have announced the full list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, the award handed to the best player in the world.
The nominees for the sport's most prestigious individual prize dropped on Tuesday evening. The winner will be crowned at a grand ceremony on 26 October, staged for the first time in the award's history in London.
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