Many football fans across the world are counting down as voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or closes today, Monday. The Ballon d’Or 2026 voting deadline marks the final stretch before the winners are unveiled on October 26. The debate over who deserves football’s most prestigious individual prize has never been louder.
For the men’s award, a jury of journalists drawn from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings will decide who lifts the trophy. Among the names tipped as frontrunners are Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, and Barcelona midfielder Rodri.
On the women’s side, a smaller panel of 50 specialised journalists, representing the top 50 FIFA-ranked nations, will cast their votes. Manchester City’s Khadija “Bunny” Shaw and Alexia Putellas, who recently left Barcelona for the London City Lionesses, are widely seen as the favourites to win the award.
The winners will be announced at this year’s ceremony in London on October 26.
The Backstory: Who Won Last Year and What Makes This Race So Tight
The current holders of the prize are Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele on the men’s side and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati among the women. Both will be watching closely as the race to succeed them enters its final hours.
This year’s men’s contest looks especially open. Yamal has kept his name in the conversation at a very young age; Kane continues to deliver goals at the highest level; Mbappé remains a constant threat in Madrid, while Rodri’s influence in midfield keeps him firmly in the mix. With such quality on the list, the Ballon d’Or 2026 voting outcome could go any way.
Among the women, Shaw’s goalscoring and Putellas’ experience and big-game pedigree make it a fascinating duel. For African football lovers, especially Nigerians, the presence of Jamaican striker Shaw among the top names also keeps the spotlight on the women’s game.
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