Top Players Missing from Ballon d'Or 2026 Shortlist, Including Raphinha and Ronaldo
The latest Ballon d'Or shortlist was unveiled by France Football, naming 30 contenders for the coveted award. Ousmane Dembele, last year's winner, is once again in the running, alongside eight teammates from Paris Saint-Germain's successful 2025-26 season. Lionel Messi is nominated for a record 17th time, though his chance of clinching a ninth title diminished after Argentina lost to Spain in the World Cup final.
Among the world champions coached by Luis de la Fuente, Rodri (2024 winner), Lamine Yamal (2025 runner-up), and Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal in the final, all earned nominations.
Notable Absences from the Ballon d'Or List
Despite the strong field, several high-profile players failed to make the cut, sparking debate about their omission.
- Martin Odegaard (Arsenal, Norway): Captain of Arsenal’s first Premier League title in 22 years, Odegaard also led Norway to the World Cup quarterfinals. His strong start to this season makes his exclusion surprising, though recurring fitness and form issues during the campaign might have influenced the decision.
- Desire Doue (PSG, France): Among PSG’s top starters, Doue was the only key player left out despite scoring 13 goals and assisting eight across all competitions, helping PSG win Ligue 1 and the Champions League and delivering an impressive World Cup performance.
- Raphinha (Barcelona, Brazil): Though hampered by injuries last season, Raphinha netted 21 goals in 33 appearances, averaging nearly 0.9 goals per 90 minutes. After finishing fifth in 2025, many feel his complete omission is unfair.
- Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, Argentina): With 20 goals and nine assists last season, Alvarez remains a leading forward. An injury before the World Cup limited his impact, but he scored a vital goal in Argentina’s quarterfinal win over Switzerland.
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr, Portugal): Ronaldo didn’t find his best form in what’s likely his last World Cup, yet he scored prolifically at club level and helped Al Nassr secure the Saudi Pro League title. His teammate Sadio Mane made the list, boosted by his Africa Cup of Nations performance.
- Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea/Manchester City, Argentina): Making history as the first player with two transfers over £100m, Fernandez had his best scoring season at Chelsea and was crucial to Argentina’s World Cup run. However, his red card in the final may have hurt his chances for nomination.
- Pedri (Barcelona, Spain): Pedri’s omission sparked protests among Catalan media. The Barcelona midfielder is known for his technical skill but lost his starting spot for Spain from the World Cup quarterfinals onward, with the team opting for better balance alongside Rodri.
