The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or ceremony returns to celebrate global footballing excellence, marking seven decades since France Football magazine established the prestigious prize in 1956. Football enthusiasts worldwide are actively debating the shortlists and contenders for the ceremony’s major individual accolades.
Ceremony Details and Voting System
The event is scheduled for 20:00 GMT on Monday, 26 October, at the Palladium Theatre in London, as reported by BBC Sport. Uefa noted that holding the event in London for the first time pays tribute to the inaugural winner, England’s Stanley Matthews, in 1956. Traditionally hosted in France, the ceremony has taken place at Paris’ Theatre du Chatelet since 2019.
A dual voting system determines the winners. For the men’s prize, a shortlist of 30 players is compiled by journalists from France Football and L’Equipe, then ranked by a panel of 100 international journalists. Jurors must prioritize individual performances and decisive character, followed by collective achievements and titles won, and finally class and fair play.
Men’s Prize Favourites and Nominees
Major international tournaments heavily influence voting, with Spain’s World Cup victory boosting the profiles of their six shortlisted players. Harry Kane captained England to a third-place finish and a bronze medal, scoring 73 goals across all competitions for club and country in the 2025-26 season while topping Europe’s overall club goalscoring charts. Teenage star Lamine Yamal enters contention after helping Spain win the World Cup and securing La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles with Barcelona, alongside scoring eight Champions League goals.
France captain Kylian Mbappe secured the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals, becoming the tournament’s all-time top scorer, and netted 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid. Lionel Messi led Argentina to second place in the World Cup with eight goals and four assists, while contributing 29 goals for Inter Miami. Spain captain Rodri missed significant time due to knee injuries at Manchester City, but his World Cup victory and tournament best player award keep him in the conversation. Norway’s Erling Haaland reached the World Cup quarter-finals and finished as the Premier League’s top scorer with 27 goals.
The full men’s shortlist features Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsi, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembele, Luis Diaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mane, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martinez, Kylian Mbappe, Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, Joao Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julian Quinones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinicius Jr, and Vitinha.
Women’s Prize Favourites and Nominees
With no major international women’s tournament during the voting window, jurors evaluated European qualifiers and club achievements. Reigning holder Aitana Bonmati missed most of the season through injury, preventing her from defending the title. Alexia Putellas captained Barcelona to a continental quadruple—winning Liga F, Copa de la Reina, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Champions League—and earned player of the tournament honors. Khvija Shaw topped the WSL scoring charts for a third consecutive season with 21 goals, helping Manchester City claim their first title in a decade alongside an FA Cup triumph.
Ewa Pajor remained a strong contender after scoring 11 Champions League goals for Barcelona and adding 16 goals in Liga F. Melchie Dumornay powered Lyon to a domestic treble with 22 goals and 12 assists, earning a spot in the Champions League team of the tournament.
The women’s Ballon d’Or Feminin nominees include Selma Bacha, Barbra Banda, Klara Buhl, Esmee Brugts, Mariona Caldentey, Scarlett Camberos, Kerstin Casparij, Temwa Chawinga, Cata Coll, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Alex Greenwood, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Yui Hasegawa, Rose Lavelle, Mapi Leon, Lorena, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Wendie Renard, Alessia Russo, Khadija Shaw, Momoko Tanikawa, Caroline Weir, and Tessa Wullaert.
Awards Categories and Coverage
Thirteen distinct awards will be presented during the evening, covering the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, Kopa Trophy for under-21 players, Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper, Gerd Muller Trophy for best striker, Johan Cruyff Trophy for best coach, Club of the Year for both men and women, and the Socrates Award recognizing humanitarian and societal causes.
BBC Sport will provide live text updates covering every award on its website and application, while Dazn will broadcast the full ceremony for viewers in the United Kingdom.
Source: BBC Sport
