Ballon d'Or 2026 Heads to London, With Mbappé and Kane Leading the Field After the World Cup

The date is already circled in red on the calendar: the Ballon d'Or 2026 will be handed out on October 26, and this time all eyes turn to London instead of Paris. The ceremony, organized by France Football, is moving to the London Palladium to mark the award's 70th anniversary, a change of venue that did not go unnoticed when the shortlist of candidates was announced this past Tuesday.

There is a fitting sentimentality to the gala turning seventy and going on the road: it all began back in 1956 in Blackpool, when a 41 year old Stanley Matthews lifted the very first trophy. The organizers wanted to bring things full circle by returning to England, "the cradle of soccer," as a tribute to the man they called a true ambassador of the game.

But let's get to what really matters: who can actually win it. On the men's side there are 30 names on the list, and the 2026 World Cup looms large over nearly every resume. Kylian Mbappé arrives as one of the top favorites after racking up 42 goals in 44 matches for Real Madrid and taking home the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals for France. He didn't hide his ambition either: "This would be a good year to win it," he said before the tournament.

Standing opposite him is Harry Kane, who had a season straight out of a video game with Bayern Munich: 67 goals in 58 matches, 36 of them in the Bundesliga. He came up short on the Champions League and the World Cup, though he did wear England's armband all the way to a third place finish. Speaking of that England squad, Jude Bellingham is also in the conversation, having scored seven goals in the tournament, including a two goal performance against Mexico that has already become part of English soccer folklore.

The list also holds some remarkable storylines. Lionel Messi picks up his 17th nomination, a record, and at age 39 he is still in the running for a ninth Ballon d'Or after a World Cup in which he scored eight goals and added four assists, even though the final slipped away against Spain. And speaking of Spain: the world champions flood the list, with Pau Cubarsí (a first time nominee who is also up for the Kopa Trophy), Lamine Yamal, Rodri (who, after signing with Barcelona, closed out the summer with a transfer worth 65 million pounds) and Ferran Torres, who scored the goal that won Spain the world title over Argentina.

The Women's Ballon d'Or, With Barcelona Front and Center

On the women's side, Barcelona once again dominates the field after a treble winning season. Among the nominees are Ewa Pajor, the Champions League's top scorer with 11 goals in 10 matches, and Alexia Putellas, who captained the team to that treble before ending a 12 year run at the club to join London City Lionesses. Also in the mix is Cata Coll, who posted 23 clean sheets.

There is also a historic nomination this year: Scarlett Camberos of Club América becomes the first Mexican player ever nominated for the Women's Ballon d'Or, after scoring 27 goals and providing seven assists in her team's run to the Concacaf W Champions Cup.

Beyond the men's and women's trophies, the night of October 26 will also hand out awards for the best under 21 player on each side (the Kopa Trophy), the best goalkeeper, the best coach and the best club in both the men's and women's game, in a gala expected to close out the Ballon d'Or's first seventy years of history in style.