London hosts the Ballon d'Or ceremony today, where the top player in the world receives the prestigious prize. Bookmakers consider Harry Kane the favourite to claim the trophy, which would make him just the fifth Englishman to win it.

Playing for Bayern Munich last season, the Three Lions captain topped Europe by scoring 61 goals across 51 matches. Another strong contender is Lamine Yamal from Barcelona, following his role in helping Spain secure a second World Cup victory during the summer.

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid is also a contender after claiming golden boot awards in the Champions League, LaLiga, and the World Cup last term, alongside last year's winner Ousmane Dembele. The London Palladium hosts this evening's gala, marking the first time since 2019 that the star-studded event takes place outside Paris.

How to watch Ballon d'Or 2026 for FREE

Audiences across the globe can view the entire event at no cost. DAZN holds exclusive broadcasting rights as the streaming platform for the gala. Viewers can tune into the live broadcast starting at 8pm GMT by registering for a complimentary DAZN account using an email address. The free stream on DAZN covers pre-ceremony coverage, red-carpet arrivals, and the main trophy presentation. Supporters may also watch the stream live on the official Ballon d'Or website.

Who are the Ballon d'Or 2026 nominees?

Early September marked the release of the thirty-man shortlist for the men's prize. The complete roster of thirty nominees for this year features the following players:

  • Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
  • Pau Cubarsi (Spain, Barcelona)
  • Marc Cucurella (Spain, Chelsea/Real Madrid)
  • Ousmane Dembele (France, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Luis Díaz (Colombia, Bayern Munich)
  • Bruno Fernandes (Portugal, Manchester United)
  • Gabriel (Brazil, Arsenal)
  • Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
  • Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
  • Sadio Mane (Senegal, Al-Nassr)
  • Marquinhos (Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter)
  • Kylian Mbappe (France, Real Madrid)
  • Nuno Mendes (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Lionel Messi (Argentina, Inter Miami)
  • Joao Neves (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Michael Olise (France, Bayern Munich)
  • Willian Pacho (Ecuador, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Julian Quinones (Mexico, Al-Qadsiah)
  • Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
  • Rodri (Spain, Manchester City/Barcelona)
  • Fabian Ruiz (Spain, Paris Saint-Germain)
  • William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
  • Ferran Torres (Spain, Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain)
  • Dayot Upamecano (France, Bayern Munich)
  • Vinicius Junior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
  • Vitinha (Portugal, Paris Saint-Germain)