Ballon d’Or 2026 live: Men’s top 10 finalists revealed

The Ballon d’Or returns on Monday night, bringing together the leading names in world football for the 70th edition of an award that has long shaped debates about the game’s greatest players. Held at the London Palladium for the first time in London, the ceremony will crown the best men’s and women’s players from the eligible period, which ran from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026.

Four names dominate the men’s conversation: Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. Kane arrives with an extraordinary goalscoring record for Bayern Munich, having scored 73 goals in 65 appearances across competitions during the campaign. His Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs strengthen his case, although England’s third-place finish at the World Cup leaves a question over his international achievements.

Yamal, meanwhile, has emerged as a serious contender at just 19, recording 25 goals and 20 assists in 57 appearances while continuing to establish himself among Barcelona and Spain’s leading players. Mbappé has delivered another outstanding individual season, scoring 58 goals and providing 13 assists in 60 appearances, but his lack of major team honours could influence the final voting.

Messi remains in the conversation despite playing his club football with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. The eight-time winner is back among the 30 nominees after missing the previous two editions, following another influential campaign with Argentina at the World Cup. A victory would take him to nine Ballon d’Or titles, extending his record.

The women’s race will produce a new winner after Aitana Bonmatí, who claimed the award for three consecutive years, missed the shortlist following a leg fracture. Two-time winner Alexia Putellas is among the favourites after another successful campaign with Barcelona, while Khadija Shaw and Claudia Pina are among the other names to watch.

The awards are decided by specialist football journalists, with individual performances, team achievements and sporting conduct forming the central criteria. The ceremony begins at 8pm GMT on Monday, equivalent to 1:30am IST on Tuesday, October 27.

Follow our live coverage for the winners, key moments and reaction as football’s biggest individual honours are announced.