For the first time in its 70-year history, the Ballon d'Or ceremony will be held outside France, with the 2026 awards staged at the London Palladium Theatre on Monday, 26 October. The move honours Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d'Or in 1956. Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal are among the favourites, while Paris Saint-Germain have a record 10 players on the 30-man shortlist, including Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi. Lionel Messi, an eight-time winner, is nominated but considered an outsider, while five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo misses out on the shortlist altogether.
Organised jointly by UEFA and France Football, this year's awards cover the period from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026. The winner is chosen by an international panel of journalists, who judge players on three criteria: individual performances, team achievements and fair play. The ceremony, hosted by Kate Scott and Thierry Henry, will be broadcast live on DAZN and beIN Sports.
