The 2026 Ballon d’Or ranking has begun to take shape, with the organisers revealing the positions of nominees from joint 29th to 11th ahead of the announcement of the winner at Monday’s ceremony in London.
Several prominent names in world football have learned their final positions outside the top 10, including Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, Arsenal defender William Saliba and Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior.
The rankings feature players from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Barcelona and Real Madrid, reflecting the range of individual performances recognised during the assessment period.
However, the leading 10 nominees remain in contention for the award, with their final positions yet to be confirmed.
Full Ballon d’Or 2026 Rankings: 29th to 11th
The following positions have been confirmed by the organisers:
Joint 29th: Sadio Mané and William Saliba
Senegal international Sadio Mané, who plays for Al-Nassr, shares 29th position with Arsenal and France defender William Saliba.
28th: Julián Quiñones
Mexico international Julián Quiñones, who represents Al-Qadsiah, occupies 28th position after making the final 30-man shortlist.
27th: Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes finishes 27th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or ranking. The Portugal international was recognised following another season in which his creative contribution remained an important part of his team’s attacking play.
26th: Dayot Upamecano
Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano takes 26th position. The France international’s inclusion recognises his performances at the highest level of European football.
25th: Marquinhos
Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos finishes 25th. The Brazilian defender has remained an important figure in the French club’s defensive setup.
24th: Luis Díaz
Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz occupies 24th position. The Colombian international’s inclusion reflects his contribution in attack during the season under review.
23rd: Nuno Mendes
Paris Saint-Germain left-back Nuno Mendes finishes 23rd in the rankings. The Portugal international is among the defenders recognised in this year’s shortlist.
22nd: Lautaro Martínez
Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martínez takes 22nd position. The Argentina international has established himself as one of the leading attacking players in Italian football.
21st: Gabriel
Arsenal defender Gabriel finishes 21st, placing just outside the top 20. The Brazilian centre-back has been an important component of Arsenal’s defensive line.
20th: Willian Pacho
Paris Saint-Germain defender Willian Pacho occupies 20th position. The Ecuadorian international features among the nominees recognised for their performances during the assessment period.
19th: João Neves
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder João Neves takes 19th position. The Portuguese international’s inclusion places him among the top 20 players in this year’s ranking.
18th: Marc Cucurella
Marc Cucurella finishes 18th in the Ballon d’Or ranking. The Spain international was nominated after representing Chelsea and Real Madrid during the period under review.
17th: Vinícius Júnior
Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior occupies 17th position. The Brazilian has established himself as one of the most recognisable attacking players in world football, but he finishes outside the top 10 in the 2026 ranking.
16th: Ferran Torres
Barcelona forward Ferran Torres takes 16th position. The Spain international is another attacking player who has made the final 30-man shortlist without breaking into the top 15.
15th: Declan Rice
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice finishes 15th. The England international has earned recognition for his midfield performances, combining defensive responsibility with his ability to contribute to his team’s attacking play.
14th: Vitinha
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha occupies 14th position. The Portugal international is among the highest-ranked midfielders outside the top 10.
13th: Achraf Hakimi
Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi finishes 13th in the rankings. The Morocco international’s position places him just three places outside the top 10.
12th: Pau Cubarsí
Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí takes 12th position. The Spain international’s ranking puts him among the highest-placed players outside the final 10.
11th: Jude Bellingham
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham finishes 11th, narrowly missing out on a place among the top 10.
The England international’s position means he finishes ahead of several prominent names but remains outside the leading group competing for the award.
Ballon d’Or 2026: Who Made the Top 10?
Although the rankings from joint 29th to 11th have been announced, the final positions of the leading 10 nominees remain the main attraction.
The 10 players still competing for the award are reigning champion Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Michael Olise, Fabián Ruiz, Rodri and Lamine Yamal.
The group features established superstars, prolific goalscorers and influential midfielders, setting up an intriguing conclusion to this year’s individual award race.
Dembélé is seeking to defend his title, while Messi’s inclusion adds another chapter to the Argentine’s remarkable history with the award. Mbappé, Kane and Haaland also remain among the headline contenders, while Yamal represents the emerging generation of global football stars.
However, the shortlist alone does not establish the final order. The remaining rankings must be confirmed before the winner can be determined.
With Bellingham finishing 11th and the rest of the top 10 still awaiting their final positions, attention now turns to the decisive stage of the ceremony in London.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be determined by the final ranking, with the football world waiting to discover which of the remaining 10 nominees will claim the prestigious individual honour.
