Punch reports that the shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees has been announced, opening the award’s 70th year honouring achievements in world football during the 2025/26 season. According to the report, the nominees were revealed on Tuesday through the award body’s X handle, with categories including Men’s and Women’s Striker awards among those listed.

The full list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has been announced, with updated rankings pointing to a tightly contested race for football's top individual honour. According to Tuko, the competition has been shaped by Spain's World Cup triumph and Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League success, with players from both campaigns featuring prominently among the leading candidates for the award.

France Football, organisers of the Ballon d'Or, have officially released the shortlist of nominees for the 2026 edition of the award, publishing the lists on their website on Tuesday. According to the Daily Post, Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele is the current holder of the prize, having beaten Barcelona's Lamine Yamal to win it last year. Details of this year's ceremony, including the venue and date, are expected to follow the announcement of the nominees.

France Football, organisers of the Ballon d'Or, is set to unveil the nominees for the 2026 edition of the award on Tuesday, September 8. According to the Daily Post, fans and pundits expect 30-man and 30-woman shortlists recognising the best male and female footballers. In total, shortlists will be announced across 12 award categories, with nominated players, coaches and clubs to be confirmed during the unveiling.

France Football is expected to unveil the shortlist of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or today, and a list of the top five favourites has emerged ahead of the announcement. According to Kalshi, England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is currently leading the race for the prestigious individual prize. The rankings highlight the leading contenders as anticipation builds around the official nominee list for this year's award.

The organizers of the Ballon d’Or award have clarified that footballers from any part of the world are eligible to win the prize, addressing a longstanding debate about the necessity of playing for European clubs. This statement comes as the competition for the 2026 Ballon d’Or intensifies.