October 26, 2026
The organizers of the Ballon d’Or Award revealed the final list of 10 players competing for the first places for the 2026 edition, in preparation for announcing the final ranking and the identity of the winner during the official ceremony scheduled to be held in the British capital, London.
The top ten list included a group of the most prominent international football stars. They are led by Argentine Lionel Messi, Frenchman Kylian Mbappe, and Spaniard Lamine Jamal, along with Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé and Norwegian Erling Haaland. The list also included Englishman Harry Kane, Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Frenchman Michael Olisey, and Spanish duo Fabian Ruiz and Rodri.
The announcement of this list came as a continuation of the gradual unveiling of the positions, as Englishman Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid star, came in eleventh place, followed by Spanish Pau Cobarci, Barcelona defender, in twelfth place, while Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi, a Paris Saint-Germain player, came in thirteenth place.
The 2026 edition is witnessing high competition, as the final list includes three players who have previously won the award: Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, and Rodri, while seven other players are seeking to win the award for the first time in their careers.
