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.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has said he would vote for himself to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, the Daily Post reports. Speaking to French newspaper L'Equipe, Mbappe, who is regarded as one of the favourites for the prestigious individual award, responded to a question about his vote by saying he would back himself. The France captain's comments come as speculation builds ahead of the 2026 edition of the prize, which recognises the world's best footballer.

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.

As of June 24, 2026, Lionel Messi is leading the race for the Golden Boot in the World Cup with five goals, while Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are closely following with four goals each, raising questions about whether this could be the best Golden Boot contest ever, according to Al Jazeera.

Ballon d'Or organisers have addressed the ongoing discussion regarding the eligibility of players from outside Europe for the award. They stated that although historically, players from European clubs have dominated the prize, it remains accessible to footballers from any league globally. This clarification aims to emphasize the inclusivity of the award.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe has said he believes this could be the year he finally wins the Ballon d'Or, following another prolific season for both club and country. The French striker, who has yet to claim football's most prestigious individual award despite his consistent goal-scoring record, expressed confidence about his chances in the upcoming edition of the prize, according to Naija News.