Kane, Rice and Bellingham among 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees; Ronaldo misses out
Quick summary
The full list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or has been released, with Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham among the Premier League and La Liga names included, while Cristiano Ronaldo is a notable absentee.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceThe 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees have been announced as the best male and female footballers of the year are identified.
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What happened
France Football has published the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham among the headline inclusions. The omission of Cristiano Ronaldo is the most discussed takeaway, marking a further shift in the award's focus toward a new generation of stars. The shortlist reflects the influence of the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga across both attacking and midfield categories, and sets the stage for a tightly contested ceremony later this year.
Chance analysis
The 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist underlines how the conversation around world football's top individual honour has moved on. The presence of Kane, Rice and Bellingham reflects seasons in which English-based and Real Madrid players have shaped the biggest club competitions, while the absence of Ronaldo confirms a generational handover at the very top of the game. For supporters, the nominations offer an early indicator of how voters are weighing club form against tournament performance in a major year on the international calendar.
Nomination status is symbolic and unlikely to shift on-pitch expectations for the players' clubs, but it cements Kane, Rice and Bellingham as central figures in the season's individual award narrative.