Ballon d'Or 2026 first rankings revealed: Nuno Mendes 23rd, Saliba 29th
The Ballon d'Or 2026 results began being announced on Monday, October 26, with organizers revealing the first rankings ahead of the award ceremony. Defender Nuno Mendes placed 23rd, Bayern Munich winger Luis Diaz 24th, PSG defender Marquinhos 25th, and Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano 26th. Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes took 27th, Al-Qadsiah striker Julian Quinones 28th, while Arsenal's William Saliba and Al-Nassr forward Sadio Mane shared 29th. Saliba's result was worse than his 24th place in 2024, despite helping Arsenal win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final. Upamecano entered the rankings for the first time after 58 matches and a World Cup 2026 team selection. Top contenders include Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, and Harry Kane. The winner is determined by performances from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026. The ceremony takes place in London at 22:00 Kyiv time, with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and Lionel Messi absent.