Paris Saint-Germain has shattered its own Ballon d'Or nomination record, becoming the first club ever to place 10 players on the prestigious 30-man shortlist for the 2026 award. The French giants surpassed their previous benchmark of nine nominees from last year, when Ousmane Dembélé ultimately claimed the prize as the world's best player.
France Football magazine, working alongside UEFA, unveiled the expanded candidate pool on Tuesday evening. Nine current PSG squad members made the cut: Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha. The tenth nominee is Ferran Torres, who transferred to the Ligue 1 champions this summer after spending the previous campaign with Barcelona.
Dominance Built on Continental Success
PSG's unprecedented representation stems directly from their exceptional silverware haul. The Parisian outfit claimed their second consecutive UEFA Champions League title, cementing their status as Europe's elite force. They complemented that triumph by winning the UEFA Super Cup and securing the French league crown, creating an unassailable case for individual awards recognition across their talented roster.
This concentration of nominees reflects modern football's tendency toward squad depth at elite clubs, particularly those with substantial financial resources. The breadth of positions represented—from goalkeeper candidates to attacking midfielders—demonstrates PSG's balanced excellence rather than reliance on isolated star performers.
What Comes Next
The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced at a prestigious ceremony in London on 26 October. With such formidable collective presence on the ballot, PSG stands positioned to retain the award should voters favour another member of their trophy-winning ensemble. Their dominance in this year's nominations underscores the gap between Europe's elite and traditional powerhouses competing for individual accolades.
