2026 BALLON D'OR FULL LIST OF NOMINEES REVEALED AS HARRY KANE EMERGES AS FAVOURITE

 

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The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or have been announced, setting up a race that includes some of soccer’s biggest stars and gives voters plenty to consider after a World Cup year.

Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland and Rodri are among the players competing for the award alongside reigning winner Ousmane Dembélé.

This year’s voting carries an added wrinkle because performances at the 2026 World Cup fall within the eligibility period. That has reshaped the race after the summer tournament, with Kane sitting atop the odds while Yamal has gained ground after helping Spain win the World Cup.

The winner will be revealed on Oct. 26 in London.

Harry Kane Leads 2026 Ballon d’Or Odds After Huge Season

Kane enters the race as the clear betting favorite, with his odds giving him a 67% implied probability of winning his first Ballon d’Or, according to Covers.com.

The Bayern Munich striker has both individual numbers and team accomplishments working in his favor.

Kane scored 50 goals across all competitions while helping Bayern capture a domestic double, ending his long wait for major team silverware. He also helped England make a deep run at the World Cup.

Those accomplishments have put Kane in a commanding position ahead of the vote, but he is not running unopposed.

Yamal has experienced one of the biggest swings in the market after playing a key role in Spain’s World Cup victory.

The Barcelona star previously climbed 22 percentage points to a 26% implied probability before settling at 17%. His performance on soccer’s biggest international stage has helped turn him into one of Kane’s most prominent challengers.

Rodri, Yamal’s Spain teammate, is also in contention at 6%. The Manchester City midfielder helped anchor Spain during its championship run and has gained support despite playing a position that does not typically produce the eye-catching scoring numbers of the award’s attacking contenders.

Kylian Mbappé Loses Ground Despite 42-Goal Season

Mbappé remains one of the biggest names in the Ballon d’Or field, but his odds fell after the World Cup.

The Real Madrid star dropped 18 percentage points to approximately 14% following the tournament.

Mbappé scored 42 goals for Real Madrid last season, but the club did not win a trophy and exited the Champions League early. France also missed the World Cup final before losing a 6-4 match against England for third place.

Despite those results, Mbappé recently made it clear that he believes his individual season belongs in the Ballon d’Or conversation.

He said it would be a “good year for him” to capture the award.

Lionel Messi is further down the market at 3% despite his team reaching another World Cup final.

Ballon d’Or Winner Will Be Decided by International Journalists

France Football and UEFA will co-organize the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on Oct. 26.

A jury of international journalists representing the top 100 countries in the latest FIFA rankings selects the men’s winner. Each voter selects a top 10, with players receiving between 15 and one point based on their placement.

Dembélé won the 2025 Ballon d’Or with 1,380 points, accounting for 92% of the total points available.

The 2026 ceremony will also recognize the top young player, goalkeeper and club.

Yamal is among the 10 nominees for Men’s Young Talent of the Year, joining Pau Cubarsi, Lennart Karl, Warren Zaire-Emery and others.

The Yashin Trophy field for goalkeeper of the year  Thibaut Courtois, David Raya, Unai Simón, Yassine Bonou and Emiliano Martínez.

Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodo/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain have been nominated for Men’s Club of the Year.

- Perry Miller Carpenter

FROM HOMESICK CHILD TO MAKING BAYERN MÜNCHEN'S UCL QUARTERFINALS SQUAD - WONDERKID LENNART KARL SPEAKS ON THE BIG JUMP HE HAS MADE IN RECENT YEARS

Karl is the latest youngster pushing to make the first team squad.

Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images

Bayern Munich’s Champions League exit in the quarterfinals against Inter Milan was a massive disappointment and understandably saw the fans hugely disappointed. However, there were several moments of promise and shoots of green that signify the growth the team can undergo in the next few years. Most surprising of all, however, was the inclusion of 17-year-old Lennart Karl in the squad against the Italian champions. The youngster, who joined from Aschaffenburg in 2022, has plundered a phenomenal 42 goal contributions in 26 games for the U-17 and U-19 teams and earned his call up to the first team with these stunning performances.

Still, just because his performances earned the step up does not mean it was not an incredible moment for the teenager. “I really enjoy these moments – whether it’s training with the first-team players or being in the squad for matches,” Karl said in a recent interview with Bayern’s official website. “Of course, I’m also a bit lucky that there are a few more squad spots available due to the many absences, but that doesn’t make it any less special. I can still remember when I moved to the Campus after my stints at Frankfurt and Aschaffenburg and felt very homesick in the first few weeks. Being here now means a lot to me.”

Karl was not just part of the squad, either. He even got a chance to warm up in the first leg in the Allianz Arena, signifying there was a chance he could have been substituted on to field. That did not happen, in the end, but Karl spoke of the excitement coursing through him at that moment: “Of course, I was a bit nervous before the game. I spoke to a lot of friends from home on the phone at the hotel, and as we headed to the stadium, I felt a positive sense of excitement. But that fades over time because you’re so focused on the game. Of course, I would have liked to play that evening or in the return leg, but I know who’s ahead of me in my position. Nevertheless, I always want to play and prove myself, whether with the first team, the U19s, or the U17s. I intend to always give my all to continuously develop.”

He will. Just give it time, and Karl can become truly special.

- Frank Mo