Ballon d'Or 2026: Hakimi and Mané, Africa's two nominees

Published on September 26, 2026

On Monday 26 October 2026, the football world will turn its eyes to London for the 70th Ballon d'Or ceremony. Among the 30 nominees, only two players represent an African national team: Morocco's Achraf Hakimi and Senegal's Sadio Mané. Date, favourites, Africa's chances and the snubs that have sparked debate: here is everything you need to know.

Ballon d'Or 2026: key facts

Ceremony date: Monday 26 October 2026
Venue: the London Palladium, London
Number of nominees: 30 players
African nominees: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) and Sadio Mané (Senegal)
Reigning winner: Ousmane Dembélé

For the first time in its history, the ceremony leaves Paris. London was chosen as a tribute to the very first winner of the award, England's Stanley Matthews, who was crowned in 1956, exactly 70 years ago.

Achraf Hakimi: Africa's best hope

Sixth in last year's ranking, Achraf Hakimi is Africa's strongest contender. The Moroccan right-back arrives with an outstanding collective record: a second consecutive Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain, the French league title and the UEFA Super Cup. He also lifted the AFCON 2025 trophy with Morocco, although the outcome of that tournament is still the subject of proceedings before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

PSG dominate the list of nominees with no fewer than ten players, which means Hakimi will need to stand out even among his own team-mates.

Sadio Mané: the veteran returns

At 34, Sadio Mané is back among the nominees, making him one of the most experienced players on the list alongside Lionel Messi. A two-time African Footballer of the Year (2019 and 2022), the former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward continues to prove he remains one of the continent's finest players.

Ironically, his nomination comes at a time when he has been left out of new Senegal coach Patrick Vieira's first squad for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers.

The snubs that sparked debate

Mohamed Salah: fourth in the 2025 Ballon d'Or ranking, the Egyptian star is not among this year's 30 nominees.

Serhou Guirassy: nominated last year, the Guinean striker also missed out.

Ismaïla Sarr: perhaps the most debated absence. The Senegalese forward scored four goals at the 2026 World Cup and won the Conference League with Crystal Palace, where he was named player of the competition. Many fans believe he deserved a place among the 30.

Other African stars, such as Ghana's Antoine Semenyo, were also tipped by some observers before the list was announced, but did not make the cut.

As a result, Africa has only two representatives this year, compared with three in 2025.

Who are the favourites?

The race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or looks wide open. Among the leading contenders:

Lamine Yamal, world champion with Spain
Kylian Mbappé, top scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the 2026 World Cup
Harry Kane, as prolific as ever
Lionel Messi, a World Cup finalist at 39

Can an African player win?

Only one African player has ever won the Ballon d'Or: Liberia's George Weah, in 1995. Since then, no African has lifted the trophy, although several have come close.

This year, the challenge looks tough against the stars of the World Cup. But a strong finish for Hakimi or Mané would already be a source of great pride for the continent.

What about the African Ballon d'Or?

Not to be confused: the CAF African Footballer of the Year award is a separate prize, given to the best player on the continent. Since 2016, every winner has also been among the nominees for the global Ballon d'Or, which puts Hakimi, the 2025 winner, and Mané in a strong position for this year's edition.

Who deserves the Ballon d'Or?

Hakimi, Mané, or an African star left off the list? Share your opinion in the comments below 👇

Comments

No comments yet. Be the first to share your opinion!