The contenders and broadcast details for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony
Lionel Messi stands among the candidates as the global football calendar shifts to the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, broadcast live across international platforms including DAZN and Claro Sports. The schedule for the gala, with transmission set for 17:00 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay; 16:00 in Bolivia and Venezuela; 15:00 in Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and Miami; and 14:00 in Mexico.
Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, holds the record for most Ballon d’Or trophies with eight career wins. His prior victories span 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Mid-tier rankings shape the male standings
Organizers released early blocks of the men’s classification, featuring several members of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad alongside South American internationals. Ferrán Torres secured the 16th position following his goal in the World Cup final, while Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior placed 17th outside the top ten. Marc Cucurella finished 18th after winning the World Cup with Spain.
Further down the men’s ladder, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder João Neves landed 19th for Portugal, teammate William Pacho took 20th for Ecuador, and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães claimed 21st for Brazil. Argentina forward Lautaro Martínez placed 22nd. Martínez previously finished 20th in the 2025 voting and achieved a career-best seventh place in 2024. Nuno Mendes of PSG took 23rd for Portugal, and Colombia winger Luis Díaz occupied the 24th spot.
The lower section of the men’s top thirty includes Marquinhos in 25th for Brazil and PSG, Dayot Upamecano in 26th for Bayern Munich and France, Bruno Fernandes in 27th for Manchester United and Portugal, Julián Quiñones in 28th for Al-Qadsiah and Mexico, alongside a tie for 29th between William Saliba of Arsenal and Sadio Mané of Al-Nassr.
Women's classification reveals positions from 11th downward
The women’s classification unveiled positions from 11th downward ahead of the top-ten announcement. Yui Hasegawa of Manchester City and Japan took 11th, followed by Klara Bühl of Bayern Munich in 12th and Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal in 13th. Wendie Renard of Lyon claimed 14th, Cata Coll of Barcelona took 15th, and Mapi León of Barcelona placed 16th.
The remaining spots include Esmee Brugts in 17th, Barbra Banda in 18th, Tessa Wullaert in 19th, Selma Bacha in 20th, Scarlett Camberos in 21st, Manaka Matsukubo in 22nd, Momoko Tanikawa in 23rd, Kerstin Casparij in 24th, Caroline Weir in 25th, Alex Greenwood in 26th, Rose Lavelle in 27th, and a three-way tie at 28th featuring Lorena, Melvine Malard, and Vivianne Miedema.
Ten finalists remain in contention for the women’s prize: Temwa Chawinga, Melchie Dumornay, Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Pernille Harder, Ewa Pajor, Clàudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Alessia Russo, and Khadija Shaw.
Historical context of recent winners
Last year’s gala crowned Ousmane Dembélé of Paris Saint-Germain and France as the 2025 men’s winner. In 2024, Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri lifted the trophy. The century’s honor roll reflects a long era dominated by Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, interspersed with wins by Luka Modrić in 2018, Karim Benzema in 2022, and Dembélé in 2025.
Messi’s historical trajectory at the gala shows consistent presence over two decades, beginning with a 20th-place finish for Barcelona in 2006, rising to third in 2007, runner-up in 2008, and his first of four victories in 2009.
