FC Barcelona has three players nominated for the prestigious 2026 Ballon d'Or award, as reported by Mundo Deportivo. The ceremony for the 70th edition, organized by France Football, will be held on Monday, October 26th at 21:00 in London, England.
Who are Barcelona's nominees?
Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, and Rodri are the three first-team players from the Catalan club in contention for the award. Yamal, the 19-year-old forward from Mataró, earns his third nomination and is considered a favourite following his World Cup triumph. His Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, recently highlighted his rapid rise: "El de Mataró acumula su tercera nominación con tan solo 19 años." Young defender Pau Cubarsí is nominated for the Young Talent award, which he already won at the World Cup. Midfielder Rodri, instrumental in the world title, is seeking his second Ballon d'Or.
Which absences are surprising?
The list has omitted three players whose inclusion was widely expected. Pedri, who finished 11th in last season's voting, is not among the nominees. Neither are Dani Olmo nor Raphinha, despite their strong campaigns. This contrasts with the presence of former Barcelona players like Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid), and Ferran Torres (PSG). Even Leo Messi, the last Barcelona player to win the award back in 2019, is in the running for his ninth trophy, now as an Inter Miami player after leading Argentina to World Cup glory.
How does the voting process work?
The winner will be decided by a jury of 100 specialized journalists, each representing one of the top 100 nations in the FIFA rankings. The vote is secret and based on sporting merit from the previous season. Lamine Yamal could bathe in gold for the first time in his short career, as he ambitiously stated. The award comes at a positive time for the club, which tops La Liga with 12 points after a perfect start of four wins.
What is the current context for these nominations?
The nominations coincide with a strong run of form for Hansi Flick's team. Barcelona are the sole leaders in La Liga, holding a two-point advantage over Alaves. Their record of 17 goals scored and only two conceded demonstrates both attacking flair and defensive solidity. This collective performance undoubtedly strengthens the individual candidacies. Fans can follow the team's progress in the standings and check the upcoming schedule on the fixtures page.
The team now turns its focus to the next league fixture against 11th-placed Levante, away from home on September 13th. It's another match in the quest to maintain their lead and continue building the case for their Ballon d'Or contenders.
