Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane stands out as one of three English players nominated for the prestigious 2026 Ballon d'Or. Joining him on the 30-player shortlist are Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Arsenal's Declan Rice, with Kane being the frontrunner for the award.

Notably, Lionel Messi, the Inter Miami forward, seeks to secure his ninth Ballon d'Or after an impressive World Cup campaign, where he scored eight goals, despite Argentina's defeat to Spain in the final last July. Messi has since announced his retirement from international football.

Among the nominees, Lamine Yamal represents one of six Spanish players who triumphed in the World Cup. Ferran Torres, who netted the winning goal in the final for Paris St-Germain, also makes the shortlist after transferring from Barcelona this summer.

Paris St-Germain, the back-to-back Champions League winners, boasts a remarkable nine nominations, including last year’s winner Ousmane Dembele. Other notable nominees include Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid, and Gabriel and William Saliba from Arsenal.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d'Or, originally established by France Football in 1956. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in London on 26 October, a venue chosen to honor former England player Sir Stanley Matthews, the inaugural Ballon d'Or recipient.