Confirmed: Real Madrid’s Mbappe, Bellingham, Vinicius and Cucurella nominated for 2026 Ballon d’Or | OneFootball

The final 30 list for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has been announced and as many as four Real Madrid stars find themselves in the running for football’s top individual honour.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in London, England in October, and Los Blancos will have a solid representation when it comes to the Golden Orb.

Indeed, superstars Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr., are nominated for the prize, along with summer signing Marc Cucurella.

Mbappe made history with Real Madrid and France

Even though Real Madrid failed to win a single major trophy during the 2025/26 season, Mbappe enjoyed another strong campaign on an individual level.

The French superstar plundered 42 goals in 44 games in all competitions, finishing as the top scorer in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

Mbappe then proceeded to lead France to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot for the top scorer, while also becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the competition.

His individual accomplishments make the 27-year-old forward a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.

Bellingham, meanwhile, may not have been at his best for Real Madrid, with the midfielder managing eight goals and five assists from 40 games in all competitions.

But he exploded with the England national team at the World Cup, bagging seven goals, leading the Three Lions to a third-place finish.

Vinicius’ fifth nomination

Vinicius, much like Bellingham, was not always at his best during the last campaign, especially during the first half of the season, but managed to make a big impact in the latter stages under Alvaro Arbeloa.

The Brazilian international ended the 2025/26 season with a tally of 22 goals and 14 assists from 53 matches, earning his fifth Ballon d’Or nomination.

Nominated for 2026 Ballon d’Or. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

As for Cucurella, the left-back was at Chelsea last season where he was a consistent performer in a disappointing campaign.

Having signed for Real Madrid just before the World Cup, he was a key part of the Spain squad that lifted the trophy in North America.

The competition will be tough though with a host of PSG superstars, including the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Joao Neves, along with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Pau Cubarsi also in the race for the prize.

Harry Kane and Michael Olise of Bayern Munich are also in the running, along with Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland.