 |
| 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees from Premier League |
Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice and Erling Haaland are among five Premier League stars shortlisted for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with Arsenal leading the English clubs in nominations.
The race for the prestigious 2026 Ballon d’Or has officially taken shape, with five Premier League players included among the 30 nominees for the men’s main award.
The Premier League has received 13 nominations across the various Ballon d’Or categories, with six English clubs represented among players and coaches.
Arsenal Lead Premier League Nominations
Last season’s Premier League champions Arsenal have received six nominations across the ceremony, including three players on the main 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Defenders Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba earned nominations after playing key roles in an outstanding defensive campaign for the Gunners.
Arsenal conceded just 27 goals in 38 league matches and kept clean sheets in half of their Premier League fixtures.
Midfielder Declan Rice completes Arsenal’s trio on the main shortlist after another influential season in which he played a major role in the club’s success.
The Gunners won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years and also reached the finals of both the UEFA Champions League and EFL Cup.
Haaland Back in Ballon d’Or Race
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has once again been nominated for the Ballon d’Or after another prolific campaign.
The Norwegian scored 58 goals in 64 matches for club and country and won his third Premier League Golden Boot after scoring 27 league goals.
Haaland also helped Manchester City win the FA Cup and EFL Cup before representing Norway at the FIFA World Cup, where he scored seven goals and was selected in the Team of the Tournament.
A Ballon d’Or triumph would make Haaland only the second Manchester City player to win the award in three different editions, following former teammate Rodri’s victory in 2024.
Bruno Fernandes Nominated After Record-Breaking Season
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has also been recognised following a remarkable individual campaign.
The Portuguese midfielder set a new Premier League record for assists with 21, surpassing the previous single-season marks held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
Fernandes also won the Premier League Playmaker award and contributed 13 goals for club and country.
His performances were instrumental in Manchester United’s third-place finish in the Premier League.
Rodri and Cucurella Also Recognised
Former Premier League stars Rodri and Marc Cucurella have also been nominated.
Rodri, who moved from Manchester City to Barcelona during the summer, enjoyed another outstanding campaign and was named the World Cup’s Golden Ball winner after helping Spain lift the trophy.
Cucurella, formerly of Chelsea and now with Real Madrid, was also recognised for his performances at the World Cup, where he was named the tournament’s best left-back.
Arsenal and Arteta Up for More Awards
Arsenal’s success has earned the club a nomination for Men’s Club of the Year, while manager Mikel Arteta is shortlisted for Men’s Coach of the Year.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is also nominated after guiding the club to their first major European trophy in 44 years with victory in the UEFA Europa League.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya is in contention for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper.
Raya recorded 19 Premier League clean sheets last season to claim his third consecutive Golden Glove.
Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who moved to Chelsea during the transfer window, is also nominated after starring for Villa and Argentina.
Kopa Trophy Features Three Premier League Players
The Premier League also has three representatives on the Kopa Trophy shortlist, awarded to the best player aged under 21.
AFC Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi, 20, is nominated after becoming the first teenager to score 13 goals in his debut Premier League season and helping Bournemouth qualify for European competition.
Aston Villa summer signing Johan Manzambi, also 20, earned recognition after helping Freiburg reach the Europa League final and scoring three goals for Switzerland at the World Cup.
Manchester City’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, completes the Premier League contingent after impressing for Lille and Morocco before making his move to City.
When Will the Ballon d’Or Winners Be Announced?
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 26 October 2026.
The nominees are selected by journalists from France Football and L’Équipe, while the final vote is conducted by journalists representing FIFA’s top 100-ranked nations.
Each journalist submits a top 10, with points awarded according to ranking. In the event of a tie, the player with the most first-place votes takes precedence.
With five Premier League stars battling for the main prize and several others competing for individual awards, the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony promises to be one of the biggest nights in world football.
