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 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.

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.

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.

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.