The 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees have been announced ahead of the ceremony in London on 26 October, with the event marking the 70th edition of the men’s prize established by France Football in 1956.
The organisers released the first category shortlists on Tuesday, 8 September, covering the men’s and women’s coaching prizes, club awards and goalkeeper categories. The main men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or prizes will each feature 30 nominees, while the other categories use shorter lists.
The announcement also includes the Men’s and Women’s Striker of the Year awards, the young-player prizes and the Sócrates Award, extending the ceremony beyond the two headline individual honours.
Men’s Coach Of The Year
Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique are the five candidates.
Arteta’s Arsenal campaign places him alongside de la Fuente, who guided Spain to the World Cup title. Emery led Aston Villa to Europa League success, while Kompany delivered the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup with Bayern Munich.
Luis Enrique recorded the largest trophy haul among the five after Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, European Super Cup, Ligue 1 and French Super Cup.
Women’s Coach Of The Year
Jonatan Giráldez, Andrée Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu and Elena Sadiku have been selected.
Romeu guided Barcelona Femení to the Champions League, Liga, Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup. Jeglertz led Manchester City Women to the Women’s Super League and FA Cup, while OL Lyonnes won the French championship, French Cup and French League Cup.
Sadiku represents Celtic FC Women and BK Häcken, while Nielsen earns a place for his work with Japan.
Men’s Club Of The Year
Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain will compete for the men’s club prize.
Bayern Munich won the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup, while Bodø/Glimt secured the Norwegian Cup. Flamengo completed its campaign with the Copa Libertadores, Brazilian Championship and Rio de Janeiro State Championship.
Paris Saint-Germain collected five major honours, including the Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, European Super Cup, Ligue 1 and French Super Cup.
Women’s Club Of The Year
Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Club América, Manchester City and OL Lyonnes are the five contenders.
Barcelona won the Champions League, Liga, Spanish Cup and Spanish Super Cup. Bayern Munich added the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup, while Club América claimed the CONCACAF Champions Cup and Mexican Closing Championship.
Manchester City Women secured the Women’s Super League and FA Cup, while OL Lyonnes won three domestic competitions in France.
Women’s Goalkeeper Of The Year
Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena and Ayaka Yamashita have been named among the candidates.
Berger represents Gotham FC and England, Coll represents Barcelona and Spain, Hampton represents Chelsea and England, Lorena represents Kansas City Current and Brazil, while Yamashita represents Manchester City Women.
Individual performance carries the greatest weight in the goalkeeper award criteria, followed by collective performances and trophies. Class and fair play form the third criterion, with the assessment period running from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026.
Hampton returns to the category after winning the 2025 Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Men’s Goalkeeper Of The Year
The men’s goalkeeper nominees were not included in the list supplied for this announcement. The category is set to contain 10 players.
The ceremony will take place in London on 26 October, when the winners of the 2026 awards will be announced.
