African footballers have received nominations across several categories for the 2026 Ballon d'Or awards, according to Vanguard Sports. Three goalkeepers from the continent are among the contenders for the Men's Goalkeeper of the Year prize. The publication released the full list of African nominees for the prestigious football awards, which recognise the sport's top performers across multiple categories.

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Goalkeeper of the Year award, according to the Daily Post. The 40-year-old made the shortlist released on Tuesday following his performances for Cape Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He will compete against Argentina's Emiliano Martínez, Senegal's Édouard Mendy and eight other goalkeepers for the prize.

Naija News reports that the shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has been announced, recognising some of the biggest names in world football for their performances. Among those nominated are Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique, and Vozinha, according to the report. The annual award, organised by France Football, honours outstanding achievements in the sport, and the unveiling of the nominees marks the start of the build-up to the 2026 ceremony.

Ousmane Dembele, winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or, has named his top three contenders for the 2026 award. According to Legit.ng, the French forward picked Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane and himself as the leading favourites for the prestigious individual prize. Notably, Dembele left out high-profile stars Lionel Messi and Rodri from his predictions. The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony will determine the successor to Dembele as the world's best player.

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.

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.