The 2026 Ballon d'Or will be held this evening at 9pm (Italian time) in London, where the title will be awarded to the best male footballer of the year. The ceremony, which will take place in a different location from the traditional Paris Sports Hall, will also include the awarding of numerous other awards, including the women's Ballon d'Or, the Kopa Trophy, the Yashin Trophy, the Gerd Müller Trophy, the Socrates Trophy, the award for the best coach and the best club of the season.
The winner is chosen by an international jury made up of specialized journalists. Each country is represented by a single voter, based on the FIFA ranking of 8 September 2026, which determines the countries eligible to vote. Journalists must consider player performances between 3 August 2025 and 19 July 2026, including national team commitments such as the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations. The evaluation criteria are: individual performance, leadership and driving role; collective results and trophies won; finally, class and fair play. Each voter selects ten footballers from the 30 finalists, ordering them according to their preferences.
Among the 30 candidates for the men's Ballon d'Or there are names of great international importance: Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Lamine Yamal are the three most discussed favourites. Other notable names include Erling Haaland, Lautaro Martínez, Jude Bellingham, Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, and Lionel Messi, who shows up in the Inter Miami shirt. Serie A is represented by Lautaro Martínez, who confirms himself among the finalists thanks to his leading season with Inter and his high-level performances with the Argentina national team at the World Cup.
The list of candidates was drawn up by the France Football editorial team in collaboration with the editorial team of L'Équipe, a juror from the previous edition and the UEFA ambassadors, including Luis Figo, Fabio Capello and Nadine Kessler. Each candidate was evaluated based on the above criteria, with particular attention to their ability to lead their team and achieve collective results.
Tonight's ceremony will not only determine the winner of the Ballon d'Or, but will also offer an opportunity to celebrate the excellence of world football. Fans will be able to follow the live text of the awards ceremony on TuttoMercatoWeb.com, where the results of the voting and the declarations of the winners will be reported. With the presence of high-profile players and a focus on additional awards that recognize fair play, leadership and social commitment, the evening promises to be a moment of great relevance for the world of football.