Ballon d'Or 2026: Kane Favourite As Nominees Announced
The 30-player shortlist for the 70th Ballon d'Or is out today, with Harry Kane the bookmakers' favourite after a record-breaking season for Bayern Munich.
Kane The Favourite As Shortlist Announced
The nominees for the 70th Ballon d'Or are being revealed today, and Harry Kane goes in as the bookmakers' favourite for the men's award. The England captain scored 73 goals for club and country last season, a tally only beaten by Lionel Messi's 82 in 2011-12, and says he is "extremely proud" of his campaign for Bayern Munich. The full 30-player shortlist is being confirmed today, 8 September 2026, with the ceremony itself set for 26 October 2026 in London.
The Chasing Pack
Kane isn't the only name in the conversation. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes broke the Premier League's single-season assist record with 21, surpassing the mark of 20 shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, and was named the league's Player of the Season. Paris Saint-Germain's Vitinha is also in contention after finishing third in last year's Ballon d'Or, behind teammate Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal. Some pundits have floated a top three of Kylian Mbappe, Kane and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with Mbappe's case resting on individual form rather than team silverware after another prolific season including a strong World Cup campaign.
Nominees: Men's Club of the Year
- Arsenal - Premier League champions.
- Bayern Munich - Won the Bundesliga, German Cup and German Super Cup.
- Bodo/Glimt - Reached the Champions League round of 16, beating Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and Inter along the way.
- Flamengo - Won the Copa Libertadores, the Brazilian championship and the Campeonato Carioca.
- Paris Saint-Germain - Retained the Champions League and won Ligue 1, the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup.
Nominees: Women's Club of the Year
- FC Barcelona - Won the quadruple: Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de Espana and the Champions League.
- Bayern Munich - Won a domestic treble and went unbeaten in 32 domestic matches.
- Club America - Became the first Mexican women's club to win a continental title, lifting the CONCACAF W Champions Cup.
- Manchester City - Won the league and cup double.
- OL Lyonnes - Won a domestic treble and reached the Champions League final.
Nominees: Men's Coach of the Year
- Mikel Arteta - Arsenal
- Luis de la Fuente - Spain
- Unai Emery - Aston Villa
- Vincent Kompany - Bayern Munich
- Luis Enrique - Paris Saint-Germain
Nominees: Women's Coach of the Year
- Jonatan Giraldez - OL Lyonnes
- Andree Jeglertz - Manchester City
- Nils Nielsen - Japan
- Pere Romeu - FC Barcelona
- Elena Sadiku - Celtic / BK Hacken
More to follow as the full 30-player shortlist is confirmed.