Dembélé, Kane and Mbappé headline shortlist for Ballon d’Or, Putellas leads women’s contenders

PUBLISHED Sep 8, 2026, 12:08 PM ET

France Football magazine has unveiled its shortlists for the men and women Ballon dOr awards, highlighting top international football stars. Reigning men winner Ousmane Dembele joins Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe among the primary contenders following standout domestic and international performances. In the womens category, two time winner Alexia Putellas leads the favorites alongside Ewa Pajor and Melchie Dumornay. Three-time reigning winner Aitana Bonmati missed selection due to an injury absence, despite returning to help Barcelona secure a Champions League title. Veteran Lionel Messi also earned a shortlist nomination after capturing an MLS title with Inter Miami and guiding Argentina to a World Cup runner-up finish. Nominees for both categories will discover the official winners during an awards ceremony scheduled for October 26 in London. The annual global accolade recognizes exceptional individual performance across club and international football competitions throughout the preceding season.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 19
Right Leaning:: 1
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 17

Explain Framing

Left: Highlighted equity representation and womens football competitive milestone achievements. Center: Focused objectively on official nominee statistics and tournament performance metrics. Right: Emphasized individual player achievements, club success, and goalscoring records.