The 2026 Ballon d’Or will be presented on Monday, October 26 in London, and as of early October 2026 the winner has not been announced. Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are widely seen as the leading names on the 30-man shortlist, and each of them wins games with a different technical strength that young players can study and copy.
Where the 2026 Ballon d’Or Race Stands
France Football and UEFA, which co-organize the award, revealed the 2026 nominees on September 8. The ceremony is the 70th edition of the award and takes place at the London Palladium, a nod to Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the very first Ballon d’Or in 1956. Ousmane Dembélé is the defending winner and is on the list again.
The shortlist reflects a season with two huge storylines. Paris Saint-Germain retained the Champions League by beating Arsenal on penalties in the final, and Spain won the 2026 World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the July final at New York New Jersey Stadium. PSG have ten players on the list, the most of any club.
The full 30 nominees are: Jude Bellingham, Pau Cubarsí, Marc Cucurella, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland, Achraf Hakimi, Harry Kane, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Sadio Mané, Marquinhos, Lautaro Martínez, Kylian Mbappé, Nuno Mendes, Lionel Messi, João Neves, Michael Olise, Willian Pacho, Julián Quiñones, Declan Rice, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, William Saliba, Ferran Torres, Dayot Upamecano, Vinícius Júnior and Vitinha.
The Leading Contenders and Their Technical Signatures
Harry Kane: Finishing and Movement in the Box
Kane had a remarkable 2025-26 season with Bayern Munich. According to the Bundesliga, he scored 36 league goals and 61 in all competitions, won the European Golden Shoe for the second time, and helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. He then scored six times at the World Cup as England reached the semifinals.
What to study: Kane rarely needs more than one or two touches to score. Watch how he moves just before the pass arrives, checking away from his defender and then attacking the space. Notice too how often he drops deep to connect play and then still arrives in the box on time. For a deeper look at his game, read our profile of Harry Kane as the complete center forward.
Lamine Yamal: 1v1 Creativity and Deception
Yamal turned 19 in July and already has a World Cup winner’s medal. He won back-to-back La Liga titles with Barcelona and, at the World Cup, completed more dribbles than any other player. If he wins, he would be the youngest Ballon d’Or winner ever. He finished second in 2025.
What to study: his body feints before he touches the ball, his habit of using the outside of his left foot to keep defenders guessing, and the way he slows down to draw a defender in and then accelerates past. Our Lamine Yamal soccer skills breakdown shows the moves in detail.
Kylian Mbappé: Speed With the Ball
Mbappé won the World Cup Golden Boot with 10 goals and four assists, reported by Al Jazeera, and now holds the all-time record of 22 World Cup goals. He also took the Bronze Ball. Real Madrid did not win a major trophy, which may count against him with voters.
What to study: how few touches he takes when running at full speed. He pushes the ball long into space when there is room and keeps it close when defenders are near. Watch his first step after receiving; it is often already toward goal.
Rodri: Scanning, Tempo and Positioning
Rodri, the 2024 winner, captained Spain to the world title and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. Al Jazeera noted that he completed more passes, covered more distance and had more involvements than anyone else at the tournament.
What to study: his head movement. Before the ball reaches him, Rodri looks over both shoulders, so he already knows his next pass. He rarely rushes and plays at the tempo his team needs.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia: Direct Dribbling in Big Games
Kvaratskhelia was named Champions League Player of the Season after scoring 10 goals with six assists in 16 games as PSG retained the trophy. In the final against Arsenal, he won the penalty that Dembélé converted to make it 1-1. Georgia did not qualify for the World Cup, which may limit his chances.
What to study: how he carries the ball at defenders with his head up, changing direction with small touches and then cutting inside to shoot or slip a pass.
Other Names Worth Watching
Lionel Messi earned his 17th nomination after scoring eight goals and winning the Silver Ball at the World Cup at age 39. Jude Bellingham scored seven World Cup goals for England. Michael Olise of Bayern, Vitinha of PSG and Declan Rice of Arsenal are also excellent players to study, even if they are seen as outsiders for the top prize.
Skills Young Players Can Observe and Practice
The contenders play different positions, but their skills share one thing: each was built through thousands of repetitions with the ball, long before the big stage. At Coerver Coaching we call this ball mastery first. Here is how to turn watching into practice.
What to Watch For
- The moment before the ball arrives. Watch Rodri and Kane without the ball. Count how many times they look around before receiving.
- The first touch. Is it toward space, away from pressure or toward goal? Mbappé and Kvaratskhelia rarely take a first touch that keeps them still.
- Change of speed. Yamal is not always the fastest player on the field, but he changes pace better than almost anyone.
- Touches before a shot. Kane often scores with one touch. Notice how his body is already set before the ball arrives.
A 20-Minute “Contenders” Practice
- Rodri scan (5 minutes): With a partner passing to you, look over your shoulder before every pass arrives. Your partner holds up one or more fingers behind you; call out the number before you receive.
- Yamal slow-fast (5 minutes): Dribble slowly toward a cone, perform a body feint, then explode past it for three big steps. Alternate feet.
- Mbappé first touch forward (5 minutes): Receive a pass and take your first touch forward into space, then sprint with the ball to a line 15 yards away.
- Kane one-touch finish (5 minutes): A partner rolls or bounces balls into the box from different angles. Finish with one touch, aiming low and to the corners.
Coaches can turn these into small-sided games by awarding bonus points for a scan before receiving or a one-touch finish. For more ways to build moves into your training, see Coerver soccer moves to beat any opponent.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony?
The ceremony is on Monday, October 26, 2026, at the London Palladium in London. It is the 70th edition of the award.
Who are the favorites to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or?
As of early October 2026, Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Rodri and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are widely viewed as the leading contenders. The result will not be known until the ceremony.
What can young players learn from Ballon d’Or contenders?
Focus on habits you can copy: scanning before receiving, taking a first touch into space, changing pace when dribbling and finishing with as few touches as possible.
Want to pull off moves like these?
Coerver Moves breaks down the 1v1 moves the world’s best players use, step by step on video, so you can practise them at home and use them in games.