The lists of nominees in the various categories of the Ballon d’Or awards are scheduled to be revealed today, September 8, with the men’s list including 30 players competing for the most prominent award, while the women’s list includes 30 players. Nominees for the Best Young Player, Goalkeeper, Coach, Club and Striker awards will also be announced.
The 2026 edition receives exceptional attention, especially as it comes after a season that witnessed strong competition at the club and national team levels, in addition to the holding of the 2026 World Cup, the results of which fall within the approved time period for evaluating players.
The date for announcing the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees
“France Football” officially announces the lists of nominees for the Ballon d’Or award today, Tuesday, September 8, with the names being revealed through the award’s official website and its social media outlets.
The final list for the Men’s Ballon d’Or includes 30 players, while the women’s list includes 30 players, with the winners being chosen at the final ceremony scheduled to be held in the English capital, London.
The evaluation process in the 2026 edition is based on the players’ performance during the period from August 3, 2025 to July 19, 2026, and includes local, continental and international competitions, including the World Cup and the African Cup of Nations for men.
When will the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony take place?
The Golden Globe Awards ceremony will be held next Monday, October 26, in the English capital, London, in an exceptional change to the location of the ceremony, which Paris used to host over the past years.
London’s selection comes in celebration of the award’s 70th anniversary, and in honor of Sir Stanley Matthews, the first player to win the Ballon d’Or in 1956.
The winner of the men’s Ballon d’Or will be the 70th player in the award’s history, succeeding Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, who won the last edition in 2025, while Spain’s Aitana Bonmatti holds the women’s Ballon d’Or title.
How is the Ballon d’Or winner selected?
According to the official “France Football” regulations, the winner of the men’s Ballon d’Or is selected by an international committee that includes a specialized journalist from each country within the first 100 teams in the FIFA classification.
Each journalist chooses 10 players from the final list of 30 candidates, and the players are awarded points according to the order of choices, with 15 points for the first-place finisher, then 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point for the rest of the choices.
The voting process depends on three main criteria, the first of which is individual performance and the extent of the player’s influence and decisiveness in matches, then collective achievements and titles achieved, and finally behavior, sportsmanship and commitment to fair play.
In the end, the player who collects the most points is crowned with the Golden Ball award.
