Sadio Mane and Julian Quinones shortlisted for 2026 Ballon d'Or | OneFootball

Sadio Mane and Julian Quinones have been named on France Football's 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. According to Goal.com, Yassine Bounou and Edouard Mendy are also up for the Yashin Trophy.

Mane helped Al-Nassr win their first league title since 2019, returning 10 goals and six assists. He captained Senegal to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, then led them into the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds.

Quinones topped the 2025-26 RSL scoring charts with 33 for Al Qadsiah. For co-hosts Mexico, he struck four at the World Cup, including the tournament's opening goal in Mexico City, as they reached the Round of 16.

After scoring in Al Qadsiah’s 3-2 win over Al Ahli on Tuesday, Quinones said pride in the milestone reflected hard work and that he will keep striving to improve. Mane, speaking after Al-Nassr’s 2-1 victory against Abha on Wednesday, called the feeling incredible, thanked fans and journalists, and noted many RSL players could have been shortlisted while respecting the vote.

Mane's nod is his first shortlist return since finishing runner-up in 2022. Quinones' rise was sealed by a final-day hat-trick that snatched the Golden Boot ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney.

Bounou earned a fourth Yashin nomination after a King's Cup win with Al-Hilal and an AFCON final run with Morocco. Mendy received a third after being named the SPL's Best Goalkeeper and lifting a second successive AFC Champions League Elite title.

Source: Goal.com

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