Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi is leading a group of footballers who have been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. This comes after a 2025-26 season.
France Football released the list of nominees on Tuesday. The awards ceremony will take place in London on October 26.
This is the year in a row that Hakimi has made the men’s shortlist. He played a role for Paris Saint-Germain helping them keep hold of the Champions League title. He also helped Morocco win the Africa Cup of Nations.
Also on the men’s list is Senegal Sadio Mané. He now plays in Saudi Arabia. These two are the African players named in the men’s Ballon d’Or race.
In the women’s category Africa has two names. Zambia striker Barbra Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride and Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga, who plays for Kansas City have both been nominated.
Chawinga was key to Malawi’s journey to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Another African name on the list is Ivory Coast teenager Yan Diomandé. He is joining Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza in the Kopa Trophy nominations. They are both competing against Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for the young men’s player award.
The goalkeeper award includes Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, Senegal’s Édouard Mendy and Cape Verde’s Vozinha.
Paris Saint-Germain has a presence with eight nominees. That includes reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé.
The women’s award is expected to be wide open this year. That’s because Aitana Bonmatí is not playing due, to injury.
This year’s event will celebrate the anniversary of the Ballon d’Or. It will also be the time the ceremony is held outside France.
