Lautaro Martínez and Messi Among 30 Nominees for 2026 Ballon d'Or

The list is now official, and it includes two names that surprise absolutely no one: Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi are among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, which will be handed out on October 26 at The London Palladium in London. That detail alone is worth pausing on: it's the first time the ceremony has been held outside France, and also the first edition in which playing in Europe is no longer a requirement to be part of the conversation.

For Lautaro, none of this is new. This marks his fifth consecutive nomination, after appearing on the lists in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025. His best finish so far came in 2024, when he placed seventh in the final standings, fueled by a prolific scoring season at Inter and a decisive role in Argentina's Copa America triumph. This time he arrives with similar credentials: he was a key piece for an Inter side that won the Serie A title and the Coppa Italia, and he also played a significant part for the national team on the road to the 2026 World Cup final.

There's something that links Lautaro directly to Messi beyond sharing a nomination: both were central figures in the same triumphs with the Albiceleste. The two Copa America titles, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the most recent World Cup final and also the Finalissima against Italy, where the Inter forward scored a goal. With the 2026 World Cup now in the books, Lautaro stands as the national team's fourth all-time leading scorer, with 40 goals in 84 appearances, a number that says a lot about what his run with the Argentina shirt has meant.

Messi's final chapter

Messi's story with this nomination carries a different flavor: it comes just days after he closed out his time with the national team. On August 31 he announced his retirement from the Albiceleste, bringing to an end 21 years wearing that shirt. Before that, he reached the 2026 World Cup final and, in late 2025, had already been crowned MLS champion with Inter Miami.

Messi remains, by far, the most decorated player in Ballon d'Or history: he's won it eight times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021 and 2023). The fact that he's back on the list of candidates, even in the year he said goodbye to the national team, confirms that his name still carries weight in any debate over the best player in the world.

Among the other nominees are names like Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembele, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, Luis Diaz, Achraf Hakimi and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Argentina, though, isn't limited to just these two candidates for the top prize: Emiliano "Dibu" Martinez is also in the running, though for the Yashin Trophy awarded to the world's best goalkeeper.