The 70th Ballon d'Or trophy in football history will be handed to the year's best footballer through a glittering ceremony on October 26.

Ahead of the event, the authorities of the French football magazine France Football have released the preliminary list of the best footballers of the year.

This list has created an opportunity for Lionel Messi to win a record-ninth Ballon d'Or.

The Argentine captain has secured a spot in the 30-man preliminary list for the first time since 2023.

Alongside Messi, another member of the Argentina squad features on the list.

Lautaro Martínez has earned a place thanks to his stellar performances in club football as well as the World Cup.

As expected, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembélé is present on the short list.

Other World Cup-shining stars like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Rodri have also made the cut.

During the 2026 World Cup, eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi demonstrated that he remains at the epicenter of world football's spotlight.

While guiding Argentina to the final by scoring eight goals, the Albiceleste skipper also briefly claimed the crown of the tournament's all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the "Greatest Show on Earth."

Although Messi is considered one of the strongest contenders for the Ballon d'Or, Rodri and Lamine Yamal gave it their all at the World Cup.

Moreover, Harry Kane's name cannot go unmentioned. Much like his rampage in the Bundesliga during the 2025–26 season, England captain Kane remains ahead of everyone in the betting odds, despite not fully exploding in the same manner at the World Cup. He owes this position primarily to his phenomenal goal tally from last season.

As Europe's top scorer across all competitions last season, Kane netted 61 goals in 51 matches, which propelled Bayern Munich to domestic double glory.

Kylian Mbappé is also firmly in the race. His "Golden Boot" title won at the North American World Cup will play the most significant role in this regard.

By scoring 10 goals in the tournament, he surpassed Miroslav Klose and later Lionel Messi to claim the glory of becoming the World Cup's all-time top scorer.

However, it was somewhat disappointing for both Messi and Mbappé that they could not lift the individual "Golden Ball" trophy.

Men's Ballon d'Or Preliminary List
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami/Argentina), João Neves (PSG/Portugal), Michael Olise (Bayern/France), Willian Pacho (PSG/Ecuador), Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah/Mexico), Declan Rice (Arsenal/England), Rodri (Manchester City/Barcelona/Spain), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/England), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona/Spain), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG/France), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid/Spain), Luis Díaz (Bayern/Colombia), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/Portugal), Gabriel (Arsenal/Brazil), Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway), Harry Kane (Bayern/England), Achraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (PSG/Georgia), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona/Spain), Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr/Senegal), Marquinhos (PSG/Brazil), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan/Argentina), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid/France), Nuno Mendes (PSG/Portugal), Fabián Ruiz (PSG/Spain), William Saliba (Arsenal/France), Ferran Torres (Barcelona/PSG/Spain), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern/France), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid/Brazil), and Vitinha (PSG/Portugal).

Women's Ballon d'Or Preliminary List
Esmee Brugts (Barcelona/Netherlands), Klara Bühl (Bayern/Germany), Selma Bacha (Lyon/France), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride/Zambia), Scarlett Camberos (Club America/Mexico), Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal/Spain), Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City/Malawi), Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City/Netherlands), Melchie Dumornay (Lyon/Haiti), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City/England), Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona/Norway), Pernille Harder (Bayern/Denmark), Patri Guijarro (Barcelona/Spain), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City/Japan), Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC/USA), Lorena (Kansas City/Brazil), Mapi León (Barcelona/London City/Spain), Cata Coll (Barcelona/Spain), Manaka Matsukubo (North Carolina/Japan), Ewa Pajor (Barcelona/Poland), Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City/Netherlands), Melvine Malard (Man United/Chelsea/France), Claudia Pina (Barcelona/Spain), Alexia Putellas (Barcelona/London City/Spain), Wendie Renard (Lyon/France), Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern/Japan), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid/Lyon/Scotland), Tessa Wullaert (Inter Milan/Como/Belgium), Khadija Shaw (Manchester City/Jamaica), and Alessia Russo (Arsenal/England).