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.

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.

Arsenal supporters in Nigeria are expressing optimism that the club can win consecutive Premier League titles following a strong start to the season, according to Punch. The report highlights fan excitement around manager Mikel Arteta's side and their prospects of retaining the trophy. The story reflects reactions from the Nigerian football community to Arsenal's early campaign form.

France Football has announced the nominees for the 2026 Coach of the Year awards, part of the Ballon d'Or ceremony, with five managers shortlisted in both the men's and women's categories. Arsenal's Mikel Arteta and Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Enrique are among the leading men's nominees. According to Leadership, the prizes, named in honour of legendary Dutch coach Johan Cruyff, recognise coaches whose tactical excellence and achievements delivered outstanding success during the previous season.

Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 in Sunday's London derby at the Emirates Stadium, ending the visitors' unbeaten start to the Premier League season. Chelsea took the lead after just two minutes through Morgan Rogers, but Mikel Arteta's reigning champions responded quickly, with Kai among the scorers as the hosts overturned the deficit, according to the report.

Former Arsenal defensive midfielder Emmanuel Petit has said that Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deserves to win this year's Ballon d'Or award. According to Petit, Kvaratskhelia's performances over the last two years justify him winning the prize. Petit added that the Georgian international belongs on a short, non-exhaustive list of contenders for the prestigious individual football honour, according to the Daily Post report.