The Ballon d’Or 2026 gala is coming in hot, and France Football just dropped the 30-man shortlist this past Tuesday, September 8. If you’re looking for a common thread, it’s Paris Saint-Germain, baby! They are all over this thing, absolutely owning the nominations for soccer’s most prestigious individual award, making up a huge chunk of the 30 players vying for the top prize.
Paris Saint-Germain Is Taking Over
Seriously, it’s wild how much PSG dominates this list. A whopping ten players are either currently with them or made a move there in the past year. We’re talking about stars like Ousmane Dembele, who snagged the award last year and is back in contention, even if everyone’s expecting a new winner this time around. But it’s not just Dembele. Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves, William Pacho, Fabian Ruiz, Ferran Torres, and Vitinha all have that PSG connection. When one club has that many players on a 30-man shortlist, you know they’re doing something right, and the rest of the soccer world is absolutely taking notice. This isn’t just a few names, it’s a full-on Parisian invasion of the biggest individual award in the sport!
Messi, Rodri, and the Other Heavy Hitters
While PSG might be flexing hard, there are plenty of other storylines to keep your eyes on. Spain, for instance, predictably led all national teams with six nominations. That includes Rodri, who not only won in 2024 but also took home the World Cup Golden Ball. Oh, and get this: he left Manchester City and is now chilling with Lamine Yamal at Barcelona. Speaking of Yamal, he’s back in the mix after finishing runner-up to Dembele last season. And you can’t talk Ballon d’Or without Lionel Messi, right? He’s on the list thanks to another World Cup full of heroics. But let’s be real, that heart-wrenching defeat in the final probably ended any chance of him lifting a record-extending ninth trophy. Still, the GOAT’s presence is always a treat. Other big names like Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe are also front and center, with Haaland earning his sixth career nomination and Mbappe his ninth.
The awards ceremony is fast approaching, folks, and every soccer fan is on the edge of their seat. Will PSG’s dominance translate into the big win? We’ll find out when those final awards drop, and trust me, it’s gonna be wild!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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