Real Madrid and PSG lead clubs with nine 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees

Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have the largest groups of nominees in the current Ballon d’Or squad rankings, with nine players each. Barcelona and Bayern Munich follow on seven nominees apiece as attention turns to the 2026 award.

The winner is due to be announced in London in the coming weeks. The club figures place Real Madrid and PSG level at the top of the list, while Barcelona and Bayern remain two nominees behind the leading pair.

The figures concern players in the clubs’ current squads rather than a historical record of nominations. They provide a snapshot of how strongly the leading European sides are represented in the latest Ballon d’Or selection.

Kylian Mbappé is among the named nominees linked to the list. The forward has received nominations in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, giving him eight nomination years.

Luka Modrić also features in the nomination history supplied for the current squad picture. The Croatian was nominated in 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and won the Ballon d’Or in 2018.

Real Madrid and PSG therefore enter the final stage before the 2026 announcement with the highest number of nominees among the clubs listed. Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s seven each leave them tied in the next position.