Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are included among the nominees for the Ballon d’Or 2026, with the list published by multiple outlets. The announcement places both established and emerging players in contention for the sport’s top individual prize.
One source highlights a “full list” of the 2026 nominees and specifically points to Messi and Yamal as among those who make the cut. Another source reports that the final shortlist totals 30 nominated players, again naming Messi and Yamal among the selected group. Together, the coverage indicates the nominees are already set and that voting will follow the release of the 2026 candidate list.
While the outlets agree on the inclusion of Messi and Yamal and the overall scale of the shortlist, they differ slightly in how the information is presented—one focusing on the complete list of nominees, and the other emphasizing the total number of players nominated.
