Nominations for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, which recognises performances during the 2025-26 season, were announced by France Football magazine on Tuesday, ahead of the awards ceremony in London on October 26.
Several African players feature among the nominees.
For the men's award, Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has been included among the 30 nominees for the second consecutive year. The defender enjoyed a standout season, helping Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League for a second successive time and Morocco claim the Africa Cup of Nations.
Hakimi was named African Player of the Year in 2025.
He is joined on the men's shortlist by Senegal forward Sadio Mané, who currently plays in Saudi Arabia. They are the only African representatives in the men's Ballon d'Or race.
