Harry Kane and Alessia Russo among nominees for 2026 Ballon d'Or
Quick summary
Harry Kane and Alessia Russo are among the players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, recognizing the world's best footballer.
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Attributed to original sourceBellingham, Rice and Alex Greenwood also nominated
Ceremony to move from Paris to London for 2026 awards
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice have been nominated for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or while Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood have been nominated for the women’s award.
The 30 men’s and 30 women’s nominees were revealed by France Football magazine on Tuesday, with the winners to be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October. Ousmane Dembélé, who won the men’s award last year, has been nominated again, as has his France teammate Kylian Mbappé , who made history when he overtook Lionel Messi for all-time World Cup goals (22) at this summer’s tournament.
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What happened
The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or have been announced, with Harry Kane and Alessia Russo featuring among the contenders for the prestigious individual award. The shortlists cover both the men's and women's categories, highlighting standout performers from across European football. The full nominee lists span players from the top leagues, reflecting another season of high-level competition.
Chance analysis
The Ballon d'Or shortlist is always a useful barometer of the season's defining performers, and the inclusion of Kane and Russo underlines how the award continues to recognise goalscoring excellence across both the men's and women's game. Russo's nomination reinforces the growing stature of women's football on the global stage, while Kane's continued presence at the top of the men's shortlist reflects his sustained output at the highest level. For fans, the shortlist sparks debate over who deserves the ultimate individual honour, and the eventual winner will shape the narrative around the year's biggest campaigns.
No direct impact on team performance; the nominations recognise individual achievement rather than altering squad availability or tactics.