Lionel Messi has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or at the age of 39, returning to the shortlist for football’s most prestigious individual prize after missing last year’s nominations.
The Argentina captain is among 30 players named by France Football on Tuesday, September 8, in a shortlist shaped heavily by the 2025-26 club season and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Messi’s inclusion comes after another remarkable international campaign in what was his final World Cup.
The forward scored eight goals at the 2026 World Cup as Argentina reached the final, where they finished runners-up. He subsequently announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39.
The nomination gives Messi another opportunity to extend his record haul of eight Ballon d’Or awards, although he faces a much more open contest this year after failing to win the World Cup.
Messi is joined by several of the leading contenders for this year’s prize, including Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri, Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The shortlist also includes established names such as Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, Vinícius Júnior, Achraf Hakimi, Declan Rice and Michael Olise.
One notable absentee is Cristiano Ronaldo, who misses out again.
The winner will be announced at the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26, 2026.
2026 Ballon d’Or nominees
- Harry Kane
- Lamine Yamal
- Kylian Mbappé
- Rodri
- Lionel Messi
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
- Michael Olise
- Jude Bellingham
- Erling Haaland
- Achraf Hakimi
- Vitinha
- Fabián Ruiz
- Declan Rice
- William Saliba
- Dayot Upamecano
- Marc Cucurella
- Pau Cubarsí
- Vinícius Júnior
- Gabriel Magalhães
- Raphinha
- Pedri
- Luis Díaz
- Enzo Fernández
- Julián Álvarez
- João Neves
- Nuno Mendes
- Désiré Doué
- Marquinhos
- Willian Pacho