Ballon d’Or 2026: Three Arsenal FC stars among nominees as shortlist revealed

Mikel Arteta’s side also made it to the Champions League final, where they were beaten on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain.

David Raya has missed out and is the Arsenal player who can perhaps consider himself to be most unfortunate not to be included.

The Spaniard has, however, been nominated for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in men’s football over the previous year.

Raya made the shortlist last year, coming sixth in the voting as Gianluigi Donnarumma won the award.

At that ceremony 12 months ago, Rice was the only Arsenal player to make the Ballon d’Or shortlist. He came 27th in the voting.

Viktor Gyokeres finished 15th, though that was for his performances when he was still at Sporting.

The favourite, though, is Harry Kane. Only four English players have previously won the award, most recently Michael Owen in 2001.

Kane scored 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich last season, before netting six times at the World Cup.

For the Women’s Ballon d’Or, both Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey have made the shortlist for the Gunners.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 26 and, for the first time, it will be held in London, in what will be the 70th anniversary of the award.

Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)

Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid)

Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)

Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich)

Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)

Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)

Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)

Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)

Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)

Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)

Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)

Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain)

Julian Quinones (Al Qadsiah)

Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona)

Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)

Ferran Torres (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)

Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)