The 2026 Ballon d'Or awards, presented by France Football Magazine, are approaching, with short lists announced on Tuesday. The ceremony will be held on Oct. 26, but not in Paris. For the first time, it will take place at The London Palladium theater to mark the gala's 70th anniversary. The first ceremony was held in Blackpool, England, and awarded to Stanley Matthews, described by organizers as a "true ambassador of football."

A jury of 100 journalists decides the short lists based on individual performances, team achievements, and class and fair play. Any player in world football is eligible, regardless of league or country of origin. The full 30-player men's short list includes Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid, who scored seven goals at the 2026 World Cup, and Pau Cubarsí, a 19-year-old Barcelona defender who won Best Young Player at the World Cup.

Other nominees include Marc Cucurella, who transferred from Chelsea to Real Madrid, Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 winner, and Luis Díaz of Bayern Munich. Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United broke the Premier League's single-season assist record. The awards will celebrate the finest players in the beating heart of the country that first conceived of football.