Ballon d’Or 2026: Harry Kane Nominated, No German Men on Shortlist

Harry Kane and Bayern Stars Lead the Men’s Shortlist

Harry Kane finds himself among the 30 candidates for the men’s Ballon d’Or following a prolific campaign. According to reports, the English forward netted 61 goals across 51 competitive matches last season and captained the Three Lions to the World Cup semi-finals. Reflecting on the recognition in August, Kane noted that the accolade represents the pinnacle of individual achievement. “The Ballon d’Or is from an individual point of view the greatest thing you can achieve,” Kane said, adding that his focus remained entirely on his on-field output. Alongside Kane, Bayern teammates Luis Díaz, Michael Olise, and Dayot Upamecano also earned places on the 30-man list.

Global Favorites and Ceremony Details

While Bayern maintains a strong presence, bookmakers and analysts view other international stars as the primary favorites for the Golden Ball. Spain’s World Cup-winning captain Rodri, France’s World Cup record goalscorer Kylian Mbappé, and Argentina’s Lionel Messi are heavily favored to claim the trophy. Messi, now playing for MLS franchise Inter Miami, could become the first male winner to lift the prestigious prize while playing outside of Europe during the evaluated season. The 39-year-old forward, who recently retired from international duty, has already won the award a record eight times. The official award ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London.

Klara Bühl Claims Sole German Women’s Nomination

Bühl played a central role in Munich’s domestic double-winning season. She is joined on the list by Bayern teammates Pernille Harder and Momoko Tanikawa. Beyond outfield players, German national team goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who plays for Gotham FC, earned a nomination in the women’s goalkeeper category. Borussia Dortmund’s Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel also secured a surprising nomination for the Yashin Trophy on the men’s side.

Team Nominations and Coaching Recognition

Beyond individual awards, FC Bayern stands as the sole German club nominated for the club of the year category in both men’s and women’s football. However, Munich faces stiff competition, with Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain favored in the men’s bracket and FC Barcelona leading the women’s selections. In the managerial ranks, Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany earned a nomination for coach of the year, competing against high-profile figures such as Spain’s World Cup-winning coach Luis de la Fuente and Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique.