Kane leads England hopefuls as 2026 Ballon d'Or nominees set for Tuesday reveal

The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or will be revealed on Tuesday, 8 September, with France Football set to publish the 30-player shortlist between 10am and 3pm UK time. Harry Kane, who enjoyed a prolific season for Bayern Munich, is the bookmakers’ favourite to claim football’s most prestigious individual award, while Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham is also anticipated to make the cut.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony on Monday, 26 October.

History suggests the Ballon d’Or is rarely decided by goals alone. Since the award was first presented in 1956, performances in the game’s biggest competitions — and, in World Cup years especially, the lifting of a major international trophy — have consistently shaped the outcome.

Spain, who triumphed at the 2026 World Cup in North America, are expected to claim several spots on the shortlist. Argentina pushed them close in the tournament, while England and France both reached the semi-finals, meaning players from all four nations are poised to feature prominently among the 30 nominees.

Kane’s candidacy will rest heavily on his individual output for Bayern Munich, but the absence of a major trophy — England fell at the semi-final stage — could complicate his path to the award if voters apply the traditional weighting toward collective success.

The full shortlist will confirm exactly which players are in contention before the judging process concludes ahead of the October ceremony.