France Football and UEFA have officially released the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, marking the beginning of football's most prestigious award season. The announcement comes after an exceptional campaign that delivered drama across Europe's top leagues, continental competitions, and the World Cup. The ceremony will take place on 26 October 2026 in London, a historic first for the award.
Team and Club Nominations Set the Stage
The Best Men's Team category features Arsenal as the opening nominee, fresh off winning the Premier League title and reaching the Champions League final. The Gunners face stiff competition from Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo, and Paris Saint-Germain. On the women's side, Barcelona leads the Best Women's Club nominees after claiming both La Liga and Champions League crowns, competing against Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Lyon.
Coaching Elite: Spanish Dominance in Men's Race
The Best Men's Coach category reveals striking European diversity, with Spanish tacticians dominating the shortlist. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Luis de la Fuente (Spain national team), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), and Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain) represent La Liga's influence on modern football strategy. Vincent Kompany of Bayern Munich rounds out the five nominees. Notable absences include Hansi Flick, Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone, and Lionel Scaloni—surprises that underscore the award's competitive nature.
Women's coaching honours showcase international representation, with nominees including Jonatan Giráldez (Lyon), Andrée Jeglertz (Manchester City), Nils Nielsen (Japan national team), Pere Romeu (Barcelona), and Elena Sadiku (Celtic/BK Häcken). The geographic spread reflects women's football's growing global competitiveness.
What Makes the Ballon d'Or Decision
The award's selection criteria extend beyond raw statistics. An international panel of sports journalists evaluates each candidate based on individual performance, collective trophy success, sportsmanship, and sustained excellence across the full season. This multifaceted approach ensures the winner represents not just talent but leadership and consistency—qualities that distinguish generational players from seasonal standouts.
Additional Ballon d'Or prizes will recognise the best goalkeeper (Yashin award), most promising talent under 21 (Kopa award), and outstanding coaching achievements. The October ceremony in London will crown football's complete elite for 2026, making it a landmark event in the sport's calendar. As nominations continue rolling out in the coming weeks, the global football community awaits confirmation of which stars will ultimately contend for the game's greatest individual honour.
