The Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris has named the top ten male footballers in the world for 2026, organiser France Football announced on Monday.
Reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain dominate the elite selection with three contenders: Ousmane Dembele, who holds the award, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Fabian Ruiz.
German club Bayern Munich and Spanish side Barcelona each secured two places among the finalists, while Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inter Miami complete the ten-man shortlist.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi is the sole player featured on the list who plays his club football outside Europe, earning a top ten selection at 39 years of age.
Contenders for the 2026 men's award
The ten players selected in the French capital represent seven different national sides and five of the leading clubs in European football, alongside North American representation.
Bayern Munich are represented by England striker Harry Kane and French attacker Michael Olise. Barcelona feature two players on the list, with Spanish internationals Lamine Yamal and Rodri both included.
Kylian Mbappe features for Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, while Norwegian striker Erling Haaland represents English side Manchester City. Paris Saint-Germain's trio of Dembele of France, Kvaratskhelia of Georgia, and Ruiz of Spain complete the European club contingents.
Messi, who captains the Argentina national team, remains the solitary representative based in the Americas. His selection marks another milestone in a career that includes multiple Ballon d'Or victories, having relocated to Major League Soccer in the United States.
Ballon d'Or history and ceremony schedule
Presented annually by French magazine France Football since 1956, the Ballon d'Or is universally regarded as the most prestigious individual accolade in world football. The prize recognises the top performer over the season based on votes cast by an international jury of sports journalists.
Paris Saint-Germain repeated their dominance from the previous edition of the awards by once again securing three nominees among the final ten. Forward Dembele entered the gala as the defending recipient after winning the trophy at the previous ceremony.
Organisers announced that the official ranking of the top ten players will be unveiled starting from 17:00 Brasilia time, revealing the final order of finish for the world's best footballers.
