The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist nominees announcement.The Ballon d’Or is surely the individual award footballers covet most, and now we know the shortlist of potential winners for the 2026 version.This year’s ceremony will be held in London on Monday, October 26, in honour of the late former England and Blackpool player Stanley Matthews, who was the inaugural Ballon d’Or winner 70 years ago.As one of the favourites on the men’s shortlist, England captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane could become just the third Englishman to receive the award.For the first time since 2022, there will be a new Ballon d’Or Feminin winner. Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati, recipient of the women’s trophy for the past three years, is absent from the shortlist after she broke her leg in training with Spain’s national team and missed almost the entire second half of last season.But before the 2026 honours are handed out next month, let’s recap how the Ballon d’Or works and the process by which the winners are decided.Who are on the shortlists?Men’s shortlist
Jude Bellingham (23, Real Madrid and England)
Pau Cubarsi (19, Barcelona and Spain)
Marc Cucurella (28, Real Madrid and Spain)
