Kane, Mbappé lead 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist — SkimNews
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- Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé headline the 30-man 2026 Ballon d'Or shortlist, with the winner set to be crowned at a ceremony in London on Oct. 26.
- Paris Saint-Germain lead all clubs with 10 nominees on the list, eclipsing LaLiga's seven and the Premier League's four.
- Lionel Messi returns to the shortlist for the first time since 2023, when he won a record eighth Ballon d'Or after moving to Inter Miami.
- The European champions are favourites for men's club of the year after completing the double, with Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Flamengo and Bodo/Glimt also nominated.
- Rodri is back on the shortlist after his 2024 win, now as a Barcelona teammate of Yamal and Pau Cubarsí.
- Ronaldo is conspicuously absent from the 30-man list — the five-time winner did not make the cut.
- Manager of the year nominees include Luis Enrique, Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Luis de la Fuente and Unai Emery, while Vozinha is nominated for goalkeeper of the year for his World Cup heroics.
Why it matters: PSG's 10 nominees — more than the entire Premier League contingent of four — underscore the French club's dominance of European football's individual awards cycle. Messi's first nomination since 2023 keeps the all-time leader in the conversation, while Ronaldo's omission from the 30-man list marks a generational shift in the sport's top tier.
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