Inter captain Lautaro Martinez is the only Serie A player up for the Ballon d’Or in 2026, as Federico Dimarco doesn’t get in despite being named best in the league last season.
This is the 70th edition of the awards created by France Football, and will for the first time be held in London on October 26.
The importance of the World Cup and Champions League on the voting was evident, as the full set of 30 nominees was revealed today.
There are no Italian players at all on the list, leaving out Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma even from the shortlist purely for shot-stoppers.
The one Serie A representative is Lautaro Martinez, who it feels was included more for his exploits with Argentina at the World Cup than for being Capocannoniere at the Scudetto-winning Inter.
Dimarco was named Serie A Player of the Season only last week, yet the wing-back doesn’t make it into the final list of 50 best players.
New Juventus signing Kerim Alajbegovic is up for the Best Young Player edition of the Ballon d’Or.
Ballon d’Or 2026 Men’s Nominees
Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
Pau Cubarsí (Spain, Barcelona)
Marc Cucurella (Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid)
Ousmane Dembélé (France, PSG)
Luis Diaz (Colombia, Bayern Munich)
Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, Manchester United)
Gabriel (Brazil, Arsenal)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, PSG)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Sadio Mané (Senegal, Al-Nassr)
Marquinhos (Brazil, PSG)
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina, Inter)
Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid)
Nuno Mendes (Portugal, PSG)
Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
Joao Neves (Portugal, PSG)
Michael Olise (France, Bayern Munich)
Willian Pacho (Ecuador, PSG)
Julian Quinones (Mexico, Al-Qadsiah)
Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
Rodri (Spain, Manchester City/Barcelona)
Fabian Ruiz (Spain, PSG)
William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
Ferran Torres (Spain, Barcelona/PSG)
Dayot Upamecano (France, Bayern Munich)
Vinicius Jr (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Vitinha (Portugal, PSG)
