Big Names Missing from the Ballon d'Or 2026 Shortlist

France Football unveiled the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d'Or 2026 on Tuesday. Among the nominees are nine players from Paris Saint-Germain's victorious 2025-26 squad, including Ousmane Dembele, last year’s winner, who is once again in contention.

Lionel Messi is nominated for the 17th time, eyeing a record ninth title, although Argentina’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final diminishes his chances. The reigning champion, Rodri, and runner-up Lamine Yamal also feature, alongside Ferran Torres, the scorer of the winning goal in the final for Luis de la Fuente’s world champions.

Surprising Omissions from the List

Despite the star-studded list, several prominent players missed out, sparking debate about the selections.

Martin Odegaard (Arsenal and Norway): Odegaard captained Arsenal to their first Premier League title in 22 years and played a key role as Norway reached the World Cup quarterfinals. His strong start to the season makes his absence curious, though recurring fitness issues during Arsenal’s campaign might explain the decision.
Desire Doue (PSG and France): Doue was the only one among Luis Enrique’s top ten PSG starters to be excluded. He scored 13 goals and provided eight assists across competitions while contributing to PSG’s Ligue 1 and Champions League triumphs, as well as performing well at the World Cup.
Raphinha (Barcelona and Brazil): Despite injury setbacks last season, Raphinha netted 21 goals in 33 games, averaging 0.87 goals per 90 minutes. After finishing fifth in 2025, many believe his complete omission this year is unjust.
Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid and Argentina): Alvarez had a standout season with 20 goals and nine assists but suffered an injury before the World Cup, limiting his impact despite a crucial goal in the quarterfinals against Switzerland.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr and Portugal): Although his final World Cup fell short of expectations, Ronaldo scored heavily for Al Nassr and helped secure their Saudi Pro League title. His teammate, Sadio Mane, made the list after a strong Africa Cup of Nations showing.
Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea/Man City and Argentina): Fernandez made history with two transfers over £100 million and enjoyed his best scoring season at Chelsea. Key to Argentina’s World Cup run, he also received a red card in the final, which likely hurt his chances of nomination.
Pedri (Barcelona and Spain): Pedri’s exclusion caused backlash in Catalan media. The Barcelona midfielder is highly regarded for his technical skills but lost his starting spot for Spain after the World Cup quarterfinals, where the team preferred Fabian Ruiz alongside Rodri for better balance.