France Football and UEFA have officially announced the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards, delivering a ceremony packed with unexpected exclusions alongside the game's biggest names. The announcement on Tuesday set the stage for fierce competition across all categories, with the awards ceremony scheduled for London on 26 October.
The most glaring absence came with Raphinha, the Brazilian winger who enjoyed a standout season at Barcelona, failing to secure a spot on the best player shortlist. His Barcelona teammates Pedri and Dani Olmo also missed out on nominations. The exclusion raised questions about voting criteria, particularly given Raphinha's consistent performances in La Liga and European competition throughout the season.
Women's Ballon d'Or Shocker
Aitana Bonmatí, the Spanish midfielder who claimed the Ballon d'Or in three consecutive years, was entirely absent from the women's shortlist. This marked the end of her remarkable winning streak and opened the field to challengers from Barcelona, Lyon, Manchester City, and other elite clubs. The 30 nominees for the women's award include:
- Alexia Putellas and Patri Guijarro (Barcelona)
- Vivianne Miedema and Pernille Harder (Amsterdam and international stars)
- Rose Lavelle and Melvine Malard (American and French talent)
- Temwa Chawinga and Khadija Shaw (African and Caribbean representation)
The women's club award will be contested between Barcelona (La Liga and Champions League champions), Bayern Munich, Manchester City, and Lyon.
Coaching Category Surprises
In the men's coaching race, Hansi Flick was notably excluded despite leading Barcelona to domestic success. The five nominees instead consist entirely of Spanish and one Belgian coach: Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Luis de la Fuente (Spain national team), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain), and Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich). Flick's omission alongside Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone, and Lionel Scaloni raised eyebrows among football analysts.
The women's coaching shortlist features Jonatan Giráldez (Lyon), Andrée Jeglertz (Manchester City), Nils Nielsen (Japan national team), Pere Romeu (Barcelona), and Elena Sadiku (Celtic/BK Häcken).
Goalkeeper and Young Player Awards
The goalkeeper categories showcase global talent. The Lev Yashin Trophy contenders include Juan García and David Raya (Spain), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Emiliano Martínez (Argentina), Yassine Bounou (Morocco), Gregor Kobel (Switzerland), Édouard Mendy (Senegal), Vozinha (Cape Verde), and Safonov (Russia). For women's goalkeepers, candidates span from Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany) to Lorena (Brazil).
The Kopa Trophy for young players features emerging stars including Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Warren Zaïre-Emery and Elie Junior Kroupi (France), alongside talent from Morocco, Algeria, Bosnia, Ivory Coast, and Switzerland. This award tracks the next generation shaping European and world football.
The complete Ballon d'Or men's shortlist will determine which player claims football's most prestigious individual honour when winners are unveiled at the London ceremony on 26 October.
