Ballon d’Or 2026 shortlist: Kane the favourite as three England stars make the 30-man list

Harry Kane is the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or 2026 after being named on the 30-man shortlist alongside England team-mates Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice. The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals for club and country last season, a tally that has the bookmakers and BBC Sport backing him to end a 25-year wait for an English winner. Lionel Messi, 39 and now retired from international football, is nominated for a record-extending ninth award, while six of Spain’s World Cup winners, including final match-winner Lamine Yamal, are also in contention.

Why Harry Kane is favourite for the Ballon d’Or 2026

Harry Kane is favourite for the Ballon d’Or 2026 because of one number: 73 goals last season for Bayern Munich and England combined. No other nominee comes close to that output, and the panel of international journalists has historically rewarded record-breaking scoring seasons.

For years Kane was dismissed as the great striker without a medal. That narrative has faded, and a win in Paris would make him the first English Ballon d’Or winner since Michael Owen in 2001. At 33, the former Tottenham captain is unlikely to get a better chance.

Bellingham and Rice complete England’s trio

Three England players are on the 30-man Ballon d’Or 2026 shortlist: Kane, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Arsenal’s Declan Rice. It is a strong showing for the Three Lions even though England did not lift the World Cup in the summer, with Spain beating Argentina in July’s final.

Rice is the sole Premier League representative among the English trio, and his nomination reflects his standing as one of Europe’s most complete midfielders at Arsenal. Bellingham, meanwhile, continues to be a fixture on the shortlist from Madrid. Neither is expected to beat Kane to the top prize, but both add to the sense that England’s core is at its peak.

Messi’s last shot at a ninth Ballon d’Or

Lionel Messi is nominated for the Ballon d’Or 2026 as he looks to win the award for a ninth time, extending a record he already holds outright. The Inter Miami forward, 39, scored eight goals at the World Cup as Argentina lost the final to Spain in July.

Messi has since retired from international football, so this nomination has the feel of a farewell rather than a genuine title challenge. Even so, his name on the ballot always carries weight, and a surprise ninth award cannot be entirely ruled out.

Spain’s six World Cup winners and Yamal’s threat to Kane

Spain has six World Cup winners on the Ballon d’Or 2026 shortlist, the largest contingent from any nation. Lamine Yamal, who scored the winning goal in the final against Argentina, is Kane’s most serious rival for the award.

At 19, the Barcelona winger would become the youngest winner in the history of the Ballon d’Or if he beats Kane. The vote is shaping up as a straight contest between the season’s outstanding goalscorer and the player who decided the World Cup final. The result will be revealed at the ceremony in Paris, with the date to be confirmed by organisers France Football.

FAQ