Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has said he will not beg or campaign to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or award. Speaking to the media ahead of his side's Champions League clash on Wednesday, the teenager said voters would determine who takes home the individual prize in October. The comments, reported by Nigeria's Daily Post, come as speculation builds over this year's candidates for football's most prestigious individual honour.

France Football has released its list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with eight-time winner Lionel Messi and young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal among those selected, according to a report by Punch. The publication shared the full list of players in contention for football's most prestigious individual award, which honours the best performer of the season. Fans can review the complete selection to see which players made the cut for this year's prize.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has set winning the Champions League as his primary objective this season after being named one of the club's vice-captains at the age of 19, according to Vanguard News. The appointment marks a significant leadership role for the young player, who has publicly prioritised European success with the Spanish side.

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.

Ten Paris Saint-Germain players have been included on a 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, a historic record for a single club, according to award organizers who released the list on Tuesday. Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are among the nominees, while Cristiano Ronaldo was left out. The award is given annually to the player voted the best in the world for the year, with the shortlist determined ahead of the final voting process.

Only two African players have been included among the 30 nominees for the 2026 men's Ballon d'Or, according to the Daily Post. Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Senegal's Sadio Mane made the list announced on Tuesday, reportedly earning their places through strong performances at the last Africa Cup of Nations and impressive form for their respective clubs. The nominations highlight their standout campaigns over the past season, though African representation on the prestigious shortlist remains limited compared to previous years.