Abby Wambach explains what makes NWSL so competitive
Abby Wambach and Julie Foudy explain how NWSL can compete with other leagues around the world and what makes them one of the best.
The Ballon d’Or 2026, the most prestigious individual prize in football, is awarded annually to the best player in the world based on their performances over the past season. This year’s ceremony will take place on Oct. 26 in London, where the winner will be officially crowned.
The shortlist for the Ballon d’Or has been announced, along with other top honors, including best coach, women’s coach, club, and other accolades to be presented during the ceremony.
Here are the finalists for each category:
Men’s Ballon d’Or
The 30-player shortlist for the award:
- Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England)
- Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain)
- Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid & Spain)
- Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain & France)
- Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich & Colombia)
- Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United & Portugal)
- Gabriel (Arsenal & Brazil)
- Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway)
- Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain & Morocco)
- Harry Kane (Bayern Munich & England)
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain & Georgia)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
- Sadio Mane (Al Nassr & Senegal)
- Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain & Brazil)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan & Argentina)
- Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid & France)
- Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal)
- Lionel Messi (Inter Miami & Argentina)
- Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal)
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich & France)
- Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain & Ecuador)
- Julian Quinones (Al Qadsiah & Mexico)
- Declan Rice (Arsenal & England)
- Rodri (Barcelona & Spain)
- Ferran Torres (Paris Saint-Germain & Spain)
- Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich & France)
- Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid & Brazil)
- Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain & Portugal)
Women’s Ballon d’Or
The 30-player shortlist for the award:
- Selma Bacha (OL Lyonnes & France)
- Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride & Zambia)
- Esmee Brugts (Barcelona and Netherlands)
- Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich & Germany)
- Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal and Spain)
- Scarlett Camberos (Club America & Mexico)
- Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City & Netherlands)
- Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City Current & Malawi)
- Cata Coll (Barcelona & Spain)
- Melchie Dumornay (OL Lyonnes & Haiti)
- Alex Greenwood (Manchester City & England)
- Patri Guijarro (Barcelona & Spain)
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona & Norway)
- Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich & Denmark)
- Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City & Japan)
- Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC and USA)
- Mapi Leon (London City Lionesses & Spain)
- Lorena (Kansas City Current & Brazil)
- Melvine Malard (Chelsea & France)
- Manaka Matsukubo (Chelsea & Japan)
- Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City and Netherlands)
- Ewa Pajor (Barcelona and Poland)
- Claudia Pina (Barcelona and Spain)
- Alexia Putellas (London City Lionesses & Spain)
- Wendie Renard (OL Lyonnes & France)
- Alessia Russo (Arsenal & England)
- Khadija Shaw (Manchester City & Jamaica)
- Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich & Japan)
- Caroline Weir (OL Lyonnes & Scotland)
- Tessa Wullaert (Como and Belgium)
Men’s Young Talent of the Year
The top under-21 contenders for the award:
- Kerim Alajbegovic (Juventus & Bosnia)
- Ayyoub Bouaddi (Manchester City & Morocco)
- Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona & Spain)
- Yan Diomande (Real Madrid & Ivory Coast)
- Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich & Germany)
- Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth & France)
- Lamine Yamal (Barcelona & Spain)
- Johan Manzambi (Aston Villa & Switzerland)
- Ibrahim Maza (Bayer Leverkusen & Algeria)
- Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain & France)
Women’s Young Talent of the Year
The top under-21 contenders for the award:
- Veerle Buurman (Chelsea & Netherlands)
- Vicky Lopez (Barcelona & Spain)
- Felicia Schroder (Real Madrid & Sweden)
- Clara Serrajordi (Barcelona & Spain)
- Lily Yohannes (OL Lyonnes & USA)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the year
The contenders for the award:
- Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal & Morocco)
- Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid & Belgium)
- Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund & Switzerland)
- Joan Garcia (Barcelona & Spain)
- Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli & Senegal)
- Emiliano Martinez (Chelsea & Argentina)
- David Raya (Arsenal & Spain)
- Matvey Safonov (PSG & Russia)
- Unai Simon (Athletic Club & Spain)
- Vozinha (Colo Colo & Cape Verde)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the year
The contenders for the award:
- Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC & Germany)
- Cata Coll (Barcelona & Spain)
- Hannah Hampton (Chelsea & England)
- Lorena (Kansas City Current & Brazil)
- Ayaka Yamashita (Manchester City & Japan)
Men’s Coach of the Year
The contenders for the award:
- Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)
- Luis de la Fuente (Spain)
- Unai Emery (Aston Villa)
- Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich)
- Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)
Women’s Coach of the Year
The contenders for the award:
- Jonatan Giraldez (OL Lyonnes)
- Andree Jeglertz (Manchester City)
- Nils Nielsen (Japan)
- Pere Romeu (Barcelona)
- Elena Sadiku (Celtic & BK Hacken)
Men’s Club of the year
The contenders for the award:
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Bodo/Glimt
- Flamengo
- Paris Saint-Germain
Women’s Club of the Year
The contenders for the award:
- Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Club America
- Manchester City
- OL Lyonnes
How the Ballon d’Or voting works
First established in 1956, the Ballon d’Or was originally decided by a panel of journalists who selected the best European player from the previous year. In 1995, eligibility was broadened to include all players active in European clubs, regardless of nationality. Since 2007, the award has recognized the world’s best footballer, with nominees assessed on their performances throughout the football season rather than the calendar year.
Today, an international jury of journalists, one from each top 100-ranked country in the men’s game and top 50-ranked in the women’s game, casts their votes to determine the winner, ensuring global representation in the final decision.