A domestic double winner, the Bundesliga Player of the Season and the leading assist provider at the FIFA World Cup: Michael Olise's 2025/26 campaign was certainly one to remember. With several game-winning moments to match his remarkable numbers, the Bayern Munich winger has every reason to be eyeing the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Lionel Messi has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, his 17th career nomination, while Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the record with 18, misses out on a nomination for the second consecutive year. The 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or were revealed on Tuesday, with Lionel Messi among the names included on the list as he seeks his ninth career trophy at the ceremony set for October 26 in London. The Argentine, now playing for Inter Miami, remains in the conversation for football’s most prestigious individual honor even as he continues his career in MLS, a testament to how closely his season is still tracked by voters years after his move away from Europe. This marks Messi’s 17th career nomination for the award, extending a run that stretches back to the mid-2000s and placing him second on the all-time list for most nominations received. Only one player has been nominated more times than the Argentine throughout the award’s history. That player is Cristiano Ronaldo, who holds the record with 18 total nominations across his career, one more than Messi will have after this year’s list. The Portuguese forward, however, will not be adding to that tally in 2026, missing out on a nomination for the fourth consecutive year as he continues his spell with Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ⬇️Lionel Messi@InterMiamiCF@Argentina#ballondor pic.twitter.com/CxxIMyGlIQ— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026 Between them, Messi and Ronaldo remain the two most decorated players in Ballon d’Or history, with the Argentine’s eight trophies standing as the all-time record, three more than Ronaldo’s five. Whether Messi can add a ninth to that collection this October will depend on how voters weigh his 2026 World Cup and MLS exploits against a nominee pool once again dominated by Europe’s top performers. Full list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi (Argentina / Inter Miami)Jude Bellingham (England / Real Madrid)Pau Cubarsi (Spain / Barcelona)Marc Cucurella (Spain / Real Madrid)Ousmane Dembele (France / PSG)Luis Diaz (Colombia / Bayern Munich)Bruno Fernandes (Portugal / Manchester United)Erling Haaland (Norway / Manchester City)Gabriel (Brazil / Arsenal)Harry Kane (England / Bayern Munich)Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / PSG)Lamine Yamal (Spain / Barcelona)Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia / PSG)Marquinhos (Brazil / PSG)Sadio Mane (Senegal / Al Nassr)Lautaro Martinez (Argentina / Inter)Kylian Mbappe (France / Real Madrid)Michael Olise (France / Bayern Munich)Joao Neves (Portugal / PSG)William Pacho (Ecuador / PSG)Julian Quinones (Mexico / Al Qadsiah)Declan Rice (England / Arsenal)Rodri (Spain / Barcelona)William Saliba (France / Arsenal)Dayot Upamecano (France / Bayern Munich)Vinicius Jr. (Brazil / Real Madrid)Vitinha (Portugal / PSG)Fabian Ruiz (Spain / PSG)Ferran Torres (Spain / PSG)Nuno Mendes (Portugal / PSG)
It was no shock to see Harry Kane amongst the 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees after an unforgettable 2026/27 season for club and country. The question now, though, is whether the Bayern Munich man deserves to receive the top prize. There are numerous reasons why he does…
Bayern Munich's Harry Kane, Michael Olise, Luis Díaz and Dayot Upamecano have been announced on the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Men's Ballon d’Or award, with the quartet now in with the chance of scooping the game's biggest individual honour when it is presented in London on 26 October.
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