Messi, Mbappé, Kane, Kvaratskhelia headline 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist | OneFootball

The 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or features Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Ousmane Dembélé, with no clear favourite.

According to Le Progres, Paris SG have eight players in contention. Dembélé is joined by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Achraf Hakimi, Fabian Ruiz, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, while Désiré Doué and former Parisian Bradley Barcola, now at Liverpool, are omitted.

Spain, champions at the most recent World Cup in the United States, supply seven nominees, among them Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsi, Rodri and Ferran Torres. Messi, an eight-time winner and World Cup runner-up with Argentina, recently announced his international retirement yet still chases a ninth crown.

There are surprise inclusions for Sadio Mané of Al-Nassr and Julian Quinones of Al-Qadsiah FC. PSG head coach Luis Enrique said earlier in September he believed the prize should go to a player from the club, a view Marquinhos echoed without naming a team-mate.

Mbappé, who did not win a trophy with Real Madrid last season but became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer this summer, said he senses this could be his year.

In the women’s list, triple winner Aitana Bonmati is a notable absentee after injury from late November 2025 to May 2026. Leading contenders include Alexia Putellas, now at London City Lionesses, Patri Guijarro and Poland striker Ewa Pajor.

Lyon’s Melchie Dumornay is also shortlisted, along with France internationals Selma Bacha, Melvine Malard and Wendie Renard. The men’s and women’s winners will be revealed in London on 26 October.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”