The first shortlists for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards have been announced, with the contenders for the Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year prizes revealed.
The announcement comes ahead of the main Ballon d’Or ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in London on Monday, October 26.
The prestigious awards recognise the best individual and team performances in football, with the shortlists for the major individual categories expected to be unveiled as the announcement process continues.
Women’s Club of the Year
Five clubs have been shortlisted for the Women’s Club of the Year award.
The nominees are:
- Barcelona
- Bayern Munich
- Club América
- Manchester City
- OL Lyonnes
Barcelona are among the leading contenders after winning the UEFA Women’s Champions League, while Club América also earned recognition following their success in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup.
Men’s Club of the Year
The shortlist for the Men’s Club of the Year award also features five clubs.
The nominees are:
- Arsenal
- Bayern Munich
- Bodø/Glimt
- Flamengo
- Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain will be looking to retain the award after being recognised last year following their maiden UEFA Champions League triumph.
The French giants remain strong contenders after another successful campaign, while Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt have earned a place on the shortlist following their impressive run to the Champions League last 16.
Other categories
The shortlists for the remaining Ballon d’Or categories are expected to be announced as the process continues.
They include the Women’s Coach of the Year, Men’s Coach of the Year, Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Women’s Young Talent of the Year and Men’s Young Talent of the Year.
The main Women’s Ballon d’Or and Men’s Ballon d’Or shortlists will also feature 30 players each.
Voting will determine the winners of the individual awards, with the winners set to be crowned at the ceremony in London on October 26.
Vanguard News
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