WILLEMSTAD — Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal have been included among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, the annual football prize awarded by France Football. According to CNN, both players have been selected for the prestigious individual honour.

Yamal, who was part of the Spanish national team that won the World Cup, is among the candidates for the award. Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, is also listed among the nominees.

The Ballon d’Or is presented annually to the footballer deemed to have made the greatest contribution to the sport during the calendar year. The selection of candidates is based on performances at both club and international level.

Additional details regarding the total number of nominees, the complete list of candidates, and the date of the award ceremony are not provided in the available source material.