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

2026 WORLD CUP TOP SCORERS

 

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN NAMED ‘WORLD TEAM OF THE YEAR’ AT THE LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS

On Monday 20 April 2026 in Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain was crowned ‘World Team of the Year’ at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony. The award recognises the capital club’s historic 2024–2025 season, praised for its team spirit and high-quality performances.

Another team award for Paris Saint-Germain! This trophy, which is awarded annually to the best teams across all sports, sees the capital club’s excellence recognised on an international stage. The accolade highlights the work achieved by the entire Parisian squad. Under the guidance of Luis Enrique, the Rouge & Bleu achieved an unprecedented sextuple: the Champions League, the Intercontinental Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the French League, the Coupe de France and the Trophée des Champions.

This team success is also reflected in the awards and nominations received by several players from the Parisian squad. Ousmane Dembélé, winner of the 2025 Ballon d’Or, was among the nominees for the ‘Sportsman of the Year’ award, alongside international sporting stars such as Carlos Alcaraz, Armand Duplantis, Marc Márquez, Tadej Pogacar and Jannik Sinner. Désiré Doué, Golden Boy 2025, was also nominated in the ‘Revelation of the Year’ category, alongside João Fonseca, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luke Littler, Lando Norris and Zidi Yu.

The two Parisian players were also the only male footballers nominated across all categories in this year’s awards, a recognition that rewards Paris Saint-Germain’s collective effort and the work accomplished throughout the season.

This accolade thus confirms the strength of the Parisian project, built around performance, teamwork and youth. Paris Saint-Germain – who will play in the Champions League semi-finals – continues to develop with ambition and high standards at the very highest level.

On behalf of everyone at Paris Saint-Germain, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Academy Awards for this highly prestigious honour. This recognition once again reflects the strength of our collective – at Paris Saint-Germain, the real star is the team, both on and off the pitch. We are also very proud to represent Paris, French football and France on the international stage, using the power of sport to bring people together and make a positive impact. These values lie at the heart of the Laureus Awards, and that is what makes this honour, being named the Laureus World Team of the Year, so special for Paris Saint-Germain.

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, President of Paris Saint-Germain

- Paris Saint-Germain 

LAMINE YAMAL MEME 😂 | BALLON D'OR

OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ VS. LAMINE YAMAL | STATS

 

2025 BALLON D'OR WINNERS | AITANA BONMATÍ & OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ

 

OUSMANE DEMBÉÉ WINS THE 2025 BALLON D’OR | EMOTIONAL SPEECH

OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ IS THE 2025 BALLON D'OR WINNER 🏆

 

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OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ QUITE

 

OUSMANE DEMBÉLÉ ON ARSENAL ( VIA L'

 

BARCELONA PRESIDENT SAYS $270M SUMMER BID FOR LAMINE YAMAL REJECTED

Lamine Yamal, who helped Spain to this summer's European Championship, is currently sidelined with a hamstring strain. Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the club turned down an offer worth $270 million (€250M) for forward Lamine Yamal in the summer.

Laporta did not reveal who wanted to sign Yamal, but various reports have suggested Paris Saint-Germain had lined the teenager up as a replacement for Kylian Mbappé, who joined Real Madrid earlier this year.

Laporta made the revelation as he defended Barça's decision to let certain players leave, denying that the club's financial problems had forced their hand in certain situations.

"There are those that think we have [transferred players] to balance the accounts," Laporta said in an interview with Barça's in-house television channel. "But that is not the case. The players that have left have left for sporting reasons.

"[Ousmane] Dembélé, [Marc] Guiu ... they won't have things as good as they did at Barça at any other club.

"We know what we are doing in the transfer market. We want those that are the best and who want to be here to stay -- and we have shown that.

"A club came to me to sign Lamine for €250M and I said no."

Since making his first team debut as a 15-year-old in 2023, Yamal has become a regular for club and country.

The 17-year-old has already made over 60 appearances for Barça and played a key role as Spain won the European Championships this past summer.

In an interview with ESPN this week, Cesc Fabregas labelled Yamal the biggest talent in world football, but there are already concerns over his exposure to senior football.

"We don't want a repeat of what happened with Pedri. Making Lamine play [against Denmark] was reckless. Of course we defended our interests and they understood our planning and what the player felt.

"Lamine is a big personality and in the end the correct criteria was applied."

Yamal returned to Barcelona on Sunday, sitting out Spain's win over Serbia on Tuesday, and is rated as touch-and-go for Sunday's LaLiga game against Sevilla.

However, Barça are hopeful he will be fine for the games which follow, against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and away at Real Madrid in the league on Oct. 26.

Yamal has scored five goals and set up five more in 11 appearances for Barça this season, forming part of the most productive front three in Europe's top five leagues alongside Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski.

- Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN NO MATCH FOR 'SUPERIOR' ARSENAL - LUIS ENRIQUE

PSG

 Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique said he has no idea how long it will take to turn his side back into a European force after a humbling 2-0 Champions League loss at Arsenal on Tuesday.

The French champions, who lost their talisman Kylian Mbappé to Real Madrid in the summer and look like a side in transition, suffered their first defeat of the season.

Goals by Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka put Arsenal in command before half-time and although PSG hit the woodwork twice they were comfortably contained by the Premier League side.

Luis Enrique, who left out forward Ousmane Dembélé for disciplinary reasons, accepted his share of responsibility for the defeat, but appeared to question his side's fighting spirit.

"Today we were far away from the standards you need in this kind of match. Arsenal were much better in terms of pressure, intensity, they won every duel," Luis Enrique told reporters.

"It's impossible to play for a positive result when you don't win any of your duels on the pitch, their defenders anticipated our attackers and our defenders didn't anticipate their attackers. Arsenal were superior."

The Spaniard led PSG to the semifinals of the Champions League last season as they beat his old club Barcelona in the quarterfinals with Mbappé scoring twice and Dembélé also on target to turn the tie around in the second leg.

They are top of Ligue 1 and beat Girona in their opening Champions League group game, but Luis Enrique said Arsenal were a big step up in quality for his side.

"I can't properly evaluate the level of our team, we will have to wait until the end of the season," he said.

"This was our first big rival at a higher level. We knew from the first minute they would press us high and they did it aggressively and we couldn't cope with that pressure.

"[Arsenal manager] Mikel [Arteta] has been here for five years, I've been at Paris for one year and two months. I don't know where we are. I have a clear idea where I want us to be, but I don't know how much time I will need."

- Reuters 

ARSENAL SHOW IMPRESSIVE STRENGTH, DEPTH IN BEATING PSG

 

Havertz scored midway through the first half as Arsenal cruised to a 2-0 win over PSG that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images

LONDON -- Arsenal maintained their unbeaten start to the season by coasting to a 2-0 Champions League victory against Paris Saint-Germain, on a night to forget for PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Emirates. The win, Arsenal's first in the revamped competition following their 0-0 draw away to Atalanta on matchday one of the league phase, lifts Mikel Arteta's team into seventh position in the league stage -- one of the top eight slots that guarantee a place in the round of 16 later in the season.

Arsenal were set on their way to victory when Kai Havertz headed the opening goal from Leandro Trossard's 20th-minute cross, but the goal was largely down to a mistake by Donnarumma, who misjudged Trossard's delivery and collided with Havertz as the Germany international headed into an empty net.

The former Chelsea forward has now scored five goals in nine appearances in all competitions for the Gunners this season and he was impressive again against PSG. His movement and industry in the final third, as well as being in the right place to score Arsenal's first, highlights why Arteta resisted the temptation to sign a new centre-forward in the summer and kept faith with a player who has developed a habit for scoring on the big occasion.

PSG, who beat Girona in their Champions League opener, enjoyed some periods of pressure in the second half, but by that stage, they were down 2-0 and as good as out of the game. After Havertz opened the scoring, Bukayo Saka's 35th-minute free kick easily beat Donnarumma at his near post when four players failed to connect with the ball as it flew toward the goal.

With the eight-game league phase still at an early stage, it is difficult to gauge how important this result is for either side in their attempt to reach the latter rounds, but for Arsenal at least, they have their first win in the competition this season. PSG should be fine after Tuesday's setback, though they can't afford many more poor performances if they're to secure a top-eight finish. -- Ogden

Donnarumma makes more critical errors on the big stage

It's wasn't the first time -- and won't be the last either, unfortunately -- but Donnarumma had another bad European night on Tuesday at the Emirates. The Italy international goalkeeper was at fault on both Arsenal goals, first by missing completely the cross by Trossard that allowed Havertz to score. Then by letting Saka's free kick go straight in the back of his net.

Despite the occasional sharp save, like the reflex stop to deny Gabriel Martinelli from close at the start of the second half, it's not good enough again from the Euro 21 winner. He has been a luxury in Ligue 1 between the posts, but he has faltered in key Champions League moments, such as last season's semifinal against Dortmund, to name another example.

If Paris want to win the Champions League one day, they will need a top keeper. They thought they had found him when they recruited the former Milan man back in 2021, yet at 25, he still hasn't really improved in his four seasons in the French capital. -- Laurens

Odegaard's absence is actually showing Arsenal's strength, not their weakness

Remember when Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard returned from the September international break with an ankle ligament injury sustained while playing for Norway, and the big question was about how the Gunners would cope without him?

The former Real Madrid midfielder is a top player, no doubt about that, but it is a testament to the growing strength and depth of Arteta's squad that they haven't missed the 25-year-old in the lineup. This was the sixth game Arsenal have played without Odegaard since he was sidelined by injury, and they haven't lost any of them.

There have been some tough fixtures in that run, too: Spurs and Manchester City away saw Arsenal bank four points with a win and draw, while PSG were brushed aside at the Emirates after Europa League winners Atalanta were held to a 0-0 draw on matchday one last month.

Without Odegaard in the centre of his team, Arteta has turned to Thomas Partey to fill the void alongside Declan Rice. Partey is a totally different player to Odegaard, but he has not tried to be what he isn't. Instead, the former Atletico Madrid man has just played to his strengths, forming a solid midfield axis with Rice and unselfishly doing what his team needed. Against PSG, Rice and Partey gave Arsenal the platform on which they built their 2-0 half-time lead.

Odegaard's importance to Arsenal is such that he will be straight back in the team when fit, but by showing they can cope without him, the Gunners have outlined their strength as a squad. -- Ogden

Decision to drop Dembélé really backfires for PSG

The big talking point going into the game from the PSG perspective was the decision by Luis Enrique to drop Ousmane Dembélé, his best player this season, after a heated post-match meeting at the weekend. Coming off the back of a 3-1 win over Rennes, the decision properly backfired, not that Luis Enrique cares -- for him it's all about discipline, and Dembélé didn't respect the rules. One wonders if he would have taken the same decision had PSG played a Champions League semifinal at the Emirates rather than the second of eight group games.

Anyway, the absence of the French international was badly felt. He is their main source of creativity and inspiration. And without him, it was definitely not the same. Désiré Doué was chosen to replace him and while the France U21 international attacking is a promising talent, he was totally overwhelmed by the occasion at the Emirates, with the visitors generating just 0.31 xG (expected goals) on 10 shots over the 90 minutes. -- Laurens

Calafiori impresses again for Arsenal

Riccardo Calafiori has made only four starts in his Arsenal career, but it's fair to say he has gone through more than most players in such a short span of time.

His first time in the XI against Manchester City saw him make an error leading to a goal and a brilliant strike of his own. Then came a roller coaster of a game against Leicester City, in which he should have been sent off for two yellow cards, and he followed that with maybe his best performance of the lot Tuesday.

Over the 90 minutes, the Italy international really showed why Arsenal were so keen to spend €50m to sign him this summer. The former Bologna defender was everywhere against PSG. First, he was impeccable defensively at left-back, against Doué, and then at right-back (despite being left-footed) against Bradley Barcola. He also showed poise and intensity stepping into midfield when Arsenal had the ball, adding another option for the ball carrier, helping to beat the PSG press.

Calafiori is one of the next generation of versatile, technically gifted central defenders who can slot in wherever needed. Seeing him always in the right position to receive the ball, his composure in possession, his physicality and defensive qualities, there is clearly not much he cannot do. At 22, the future looks outstanding for him and for Arsenal. -- Laurens

- Mark Ogden and Julien Laurens

DEPARTING MBAPPÉ CHASES A LAST TROPHY WITH PSG IN FRENCH CUP FINAL AGAINST RESURGENT LYON

AP Photo

 PARIS (AP) — This time, it's really the end.

After missing Paris Saint-Germain’s last two league games, Kylian Mbappé should start in the French Cup final against Lyon on Saturday for his final match in a PSG shirt.

The forward, who is widely expected to join Real Madrid, was given some free time by coach Luis Enrique last weekend and was spotted enjoying himself at the Cannes film festival while PSG wrapped up a 12th victorious league campaign in less glamorous settings.

Mbappé told PSG in February he will leave at the end of the season — Saturday night — and confirmed it this month. Over the last three months, Enrique has tried to make PSG less reliant on his star striker, arguing that he needed to start thinking about the future knowing that Mbappé would not be around next season.

Although Enrique has yet to decide on his starting XI for Saturday's final at Lille's Stade Pierre-Mauroy, snubbing Mbappé, or even leaving him on the bench, would equate to a slap in his face.

Mbappé is the club’s all-time top scorer with 256 and has won six Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups with PSG. Although he didn't lead the club to a Champions League trophy in his seven seasons in Paris, he largely contributed to helping PSG reach a respected status on the continent.

Leaving him on the sidelines on the night he could cap his PSG journey with yet another title seems highly unlikely, although Enrique has warned his players he will select only those who deserve it.

“We’ll see who’s ready, who’s not ready (to play), who wants to, who doesn’t want to,” Enrique said.

Like Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé did not play against Nice and Metz in the closing league rounds but should be back to face a resurgent Lyon side led by former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.

LYON MASTER OF COMEBACKS

Lyon has been in impressive form in recent months and Enrique can't afford to take the five-time Cup champion lightly.

Since Pierre Sage was appointed coach last November when Lyon was at the bottom of the league, the team has been transformed into a winning machine. After sealing European soccer next season, Lyon can cap a remarkable second half of the season with its first silverware since 2012.

One of Lyon's main assets has been its capacity to come from behind under Sage's guidance. According to French league statistics, Lyon has secured 27 points from a losing position, with only Liverpool and Girona doing better in the top five leagues. Lyon substitutes have contributed 18 goals since Sage's appointment.

WHY BARCELONA CAN ONLY BLAME THEMSELVES AFTER IMPLODING VS. PSG

Barcelona came into the second leg tie against PSG with a one goal lead, but lost 6-4 on aggregate after going a man down and falling apart. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

 Barcelona's wait for a first Champions League semifinal appearance since 2019 goes on after Xavi Hernández's side imploded against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday following Ronald Araújo's first half sending off at the Olympic Stadium.

Barça were leading 1-0 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate after last week's first leg win in Paris, when Araujo lightly bundled Bradley Barcola down just outside the area in the 29th minute. The referee quickly branded a red card, and with it Barça's hopes of reaching the last four disappeared as quickly as Barcola had dropped to the deck, with the game ending 6-4 on aggregate.

PSG's comeback was led by Ousmane Dembélé on his return to Barcelona. He left Barça for France last summer in a transfer worth €50 million and fierce whistles greeted his every touch. He could afford a smile when he equalized just before half-time, converting Barcola's cross to get his side back in the tie. It was just the third goal he has scored this season -- two of them have come against Barça in the last week.

Barça may pin their collapse on being down to 10 men, but the truth is they made PSG's route back into the game easy. Vitinha was left unmarked on the edge of the box from a corner in the 54th minute. He duly smashed in to the bottom corner and then, just after the hour mark, João Cancelo clattered into Dembéle inside the box. Kylian Mbappé, anonymous in the first leg, dispatched the resulting penalty to give PSG the lead in the tie.

The home side did have chances to level, but they came and went, with Mbappé adding his second goal on the counter-attack in the 89th minute to seal PSG's passage into the semifinal as flares were set off in the away end in the second tier behind the goal where he had just scored.

If that was the end to this frenetic tie, it is unlikely to be the end to the developing rivalry between the two clubs. Manager Luis Enrique was in the Barça dugout in 2017 when they beat PSG 6-1 to overcome a 4-0 first leg deficit. Now he has helped PSG overturn a first leg defeat in the competition for the first ever time. Before the game, he had said he was convinced that would be the case.

In between those two comebacks, PSG have taken Neymar, Lionel Messi and Dembéle from Barça, while they also hammered the Catalans at Camp Nou when the two sides met in 2021 in the last 16, Mbappé netting a hat trick on that occasion. All of those factors have added an edge to this fixture and it was apparent here, with the extra police presence palpable and supporters chanting their dislike for each other throughout the day in the city all the way up to the stadium in Montjuic.

When 16-year-old Lamine Yamal roasted Nuno Mendes in the 12th minute to set up Raphinha, it looked like the travelling supporters would finally be silenced. Barça were unbeaten in 13 games coming into this match, dating back to Xavi's January announcement that he will step down when the season ends. They have kept six clean sheets in a row in LaLiga. With a two goal advantage, it looked like tie over.

Robert Lewandowski blazed a chance to add another goal for Barça over the bar before the game swung definitively just before the half hour mark. Araujo was adamant he had not fouled Barcola. The touch was light, but it existed and it is not the sort of decision VAR often intervenes in.

How Barça reacted to losing a man is what will haunt them. Iñigo Martínez came on for Yamal, limiting their counter attack ability, and PSG set up camp in the final third.

Xavi said about going a man down: "We are annoyed. The red card has marked the tie. We were well-organised 11 v 11. The referee was really bad. I told him, he was a disaster. He killed the tie. I don't like speaking about refs but it has to be said. I don't understand it."

Dembélé's goal just before the break bred confidence and PSG poured forward at the start of the second half. Marc-André ter Stegen was almost caught out by a skidding effort from Achraf Hakimi, Fabián Ruiz shot wide and then, finally, Vitinha made it 2-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate. The penalty soon followed as Barça, who conceded two goals in three minutes in the first leg, once again lost their bearings.

Once behind, they did rally. There was a penalty shout turned down on Ilkay Gündogan, which led to a fuming Xavi being sent off for protesting and kicking a barrier on the sideline, before goalkeeper coach José Ramón de la Fuente also received his marching orders. The anger felt as much about a loss of control of the match as it did the decisions on the pitch.

Still, Gianluigi Donnarumma had to save from Lewandowski, with Marquinhos preventing Ferran Torres from tapping in the rebound, and then Raphinha dragged a cross-shot just wide as Barça's European campaign faded out.

In the 88th minute, Dembélé was whistled off, and a minute later, Mbappé sealed PSG's passage to the semifinal. The French side will meet Borussia Dortmund in the last four as they continue their bid to win a maiden Champions League trophy.

Barça, meanwhile, head to Real Madrid for El Clásico on Sunday. With Madrid eight points clear at the top of LaLiga, anything but a win would now effectively end their hopes of silverware this spleason.

- Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent

VAR OFFICIAL REMOVED FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAME AFTER MBAPPÉ'S LATE PENALTY FOR PSG VS. NEWCASTLE

AP Photo 

GENEVA (AP) — A video review official has been removed from his Champions League game on Wednesday, one day after having a key role in a disputed decision to award Paris Saint-Germain a stoppage-time penalty for handball against Newcastle which contradicted UEFA’s own advice to referees.

The VAR specialist from Poland, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, is no longer listed to work at the Real Sociedad-Salzburg game and has been replaced by a German match official.

In Paris on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappé scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw after a ball struck Newcastle defender Tino Livramento in the chest and then deflected off his arm, and a penalty was awarded by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak following a VAR review.

Marciniak refereed the Champions League final last season and the 2022 World Cup final with Kwiatkowski in his team. Marciniak initially allowed play to continue Tuesday but awarded the penalty after he was advised by his video assistant to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.

However, a UEFA panel of storied coaches and former players said in April that “no handball offense should be called on a player if the ball is previously deflected from his own body, and, in particular, when the ball does not go towards the goal.”