There will be 10 Africans from four categories nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Award. These include the leading contenders for the men’s Ballon d’Or Award, such as Moroccan player Achraf Hakimi and Senegal’s Sadio Mané. Two Africans will feature in the Women’s Ballon d’Or while three others will contest for the Kopa and Yashin trophies, respectively.
This year’s ceremony, which takes place on October 26 will be the first ever Ballon d’Or in London.
Hakimi and Mané lead men’s Ballon d’Or race
Moroccan captain and French league champion Achraf Hakimi is the top African nominee for the men’s Ballon d’Or Award. He will face off with Senegal star striker Sadio Mané, who is playing in Saudi Arabia.
These are the only two African footballers who have made it into the 30-player shortlist for the Ballon d’Or in the men’s category. Hakimi is also the African Player of the Year in 2025, whereas Mané is once again nominated to the list due to another excellent year.
| Player | Country | Club | Category |
| Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | PSG | Men’s Ballon d’Or |
| Sadio Mané | Senegal | Al-Nassr | Men’s Ballon d’Or |
Two African Players in Women’s Ballon d’Or
There are two African footballers nominated for the women’s Ballon d’Or.
Zambian footballer Barbra Banda has been nominated to the list due to another great season in Orlando Pride. Joining her is Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, who plays in Kansas City Current.
Chawinga has played an important role in Malawi’s historic run to the finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Three African Goalkeepers Shortlisted for Yashin Trophy
Moreover, there are three candidates from the continent in the goalkeeper category.
They include Yassine Bounou of Morocco, Édouard Mendy from Senegal, and veteran Vozinha of Cape Verde, all of whom have been nominated for the Yashin Trophy award for the world’s best goalkeeper.
Notably, Vozinha has made the list following his performances during the 2026 World Cup, where he contributed to the victory of Cape Verde in reaching the knockout stage for the first time, including one against Spain.
List of All African Ballon d’Or Nominees in 2026
The total list of nominees from Africa in the various categories of the Ballon d’Or 2026 is as follows:
- Achraf Hakimi – Morocco – Men’s Ballon d’Or
- Sadio Mané – Senegal – Men’s Ballon d’Or
- Barbra Banda – Zambia – Women’s Ballon d’Or
- Temwa Chawinga – Malawi – Women’s Ballon d’Or
- Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco – Kopa Trophy
- Yan Diomandé – Côte d’Ivoire – Kopa Trophy
- Ibrahim Maza – Algeria – Kopa Trophy
- Yassine Bounou – Morocco – Yashin Trophy
- Édouard Mendy – Senegal – Yashin Trophy
- Vozinha – Cape Verde – Yashin Trophy
Conclusion
The Ballon d’Or nominations of 2026 show that Africa is increasingly becoming prominent in world football. While Hakimi and Mané are vying for the prestigious individual men’s award, Banda and Chawinga are African candidates for the individual women’s award. There are three new players seeking the Kopa Trophy, whereas Bounou, Mendy and Vozinha will battle it out for the Yashin Trophy.
The winners will be announced in London on October 26, 2026.
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