Ballon d’Or 2026: Sadio Mané among the 30 nominees!
The list of 30 finalists competing for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is revealed this Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Thanks to his title of African champion, Senegalese striker Sadio Mané, 34, returns to this prestigious selection after four years of absence. On the other hand, no Ismaïla Sarr, European champion and top African scorer at the 2026 World Cup, nor Pape Gueye, scorer in the final and best African player in La Liga last season.
Less than two months before the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London, the world of football now knows the contenders for the 70th edition of this individual trophy. Ousmane Dembélé, current title holder, is naturally one of them, alongside the biggest names in world football. Lionel Messi, 39, also marks his return to the race after a remarkable 2026 World Cup, punctuated by 8 goals and 4 assists, as well as a place in the final.
Record holder for the number of Ballons d’Or won with eight coronations, the Argentinian is the big favorite. The competition, however, promises to be formidable, with several world champions among the contenders: the Barcelonars Lamine Yamal and Rodrigo Hernandez (recently arrived from Manchester City), Kylian Mbappé, who has become the top scorer in the history of the World Cup with 22 goals, or the Parisian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, crowned European champion.
Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ⬇️@SMane_Officiel@AlNassrFC@AlNassrFC_EN@Fsfofficielle@GaindeYi#ballondor pic.twitter.com/i6dI76cbFZ
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
A fifth nomination for Bambali’s child
Sadio Mané gets his fifth nomination, after those of 2017 (23rd place), 2018 (22nd), 2019 (4th) and 2022 (2nd). Alongside Achraf Hakimi, he is one of the two great African representatives on this list. A deserved recognition in view of his 2025-2026 season: the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich player scored 14 goals and provided 9 assists in 36 matches in all competitions, while winning his first Saudi Arabian championship title with Al-Nassr, undefeated each time he was on the pitch.
But it was especially with the Lions of Senegal that Mané made his mark. True boss of the national team during the CAN 2025 in Morocco, he distinguished himself with two goals and three assists, while showing exemplary composure during the tensions that arose in the final against Morocco. Named best player of the tournament and best passer of the competition with 9 goals, he led Senegal to the continental coronation, a performance which could now open the way to a third African Ballon d’Or.
OBN
