Messi Receives 17th Ballon d'Or Nomination for 2026

Lionel Messi has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, marking his 17th nomination and bringing him closer to Cristiano Ronaldo's all-time record of 18 nominations. The final list for the award was confirmed, with the ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London.

Messi's first nomination occurred in 2006, highlighting his remarkable two-decade presence on the shortlist. Cristiano Ronaldo, who received nominations from 2004 to 2022, remains the only player with more nominations than Messi.

Among currently active players, Kylian Mbappé has nine nominations, while Harry Kane has eight. Other notable nominees include Erling Haaland (six), Sadio Mané, Lautaro Martínez, and Vinícius Júnior (five each), and Jude Bellingham (four).

The 2026 shortlist reflects both established figures and emerging stars, with younger players like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Rodri Hernández, Declan Rice, and Lamine Yamal each receiving three nominations.