Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 18 Ballon d’Or nominations remains unmatched as the football world awaits the announcement of the 2026 final 30 nominees on September 8.
The shortlist will determine the players in contention for the prestigious individual award ahead of the ceremony in London on October 26.
Ronaldo tops the all-time nominations list with 18, while Lionel Messi follows with 16 after their long dominance of world football.
The Portuguese captain has won the Ballon d’Or five times, whereas Messi remains the most decorated player in the award’s history with eight titles.
Former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini ranks third with 13 nominations, while Johan Cruyff and Karim Benzema have received 12 each.
Young stars including Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé are expected to feature prominently in
this year’s race after impressive performances for club and country.
The recently concluded FIFA World Cup is also expected to influence the voting, with performances at the tournament likely to play a major role.
The winner will be selected by an international panel of football journalists, with Ronaldo’s record 18 nominations still standing as the milestone future generations will aim to surpass.
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