Last year’s winner Ousmane Dembele, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe headline the contenders for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or.
France Football magazine announced the 30 nominees for both the men’s and women’s awards Tuesday, with the winners set to be revealed at a ceremony in London on Oct. 26.
In the women’s race, two-time winner Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay are among the leading contenders. Aitana Bonmatí, who won the award the past three years, was left off the list after missing most of the season with an injury.
Bonmatí returned late in the campaign and helped Barcelona complete a trophy-filled season that included another Champions League title.
Dembele and Mbappe both represented France at the World Cup, where they reached the semifinals before losing to eventual champions Spain. While winning a major international trophy often plays a significant role in the Ballon d’Or race, Mbappe strengthened his case by making World Cup history.
