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Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is one of three England players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.<\/b><\/p>\n
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Arsenal’s Declan Rice join Kane, the favourite for the award, on the 30-player shortlist.<\/p>\n
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, who is looking to win his ninth Ballon d’Or, has been nominated.<\/p>\n
The 39-year-old scored eight goals as Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain in July, with Messi since retiring from international football.<\/a><\/p>\n Lamine Yamal is one of six Spain players that won the World Cup to be included.<\/p>\n Having scored the winning goal in the final, Paris St-Germain forward Ferran Torres, who joined the French club from Barcelona in the summer, makes the cut.<\/p>\n Back-to-back Champions League winners Paris St-Germain have nine players – excluding new signing Torres – nominated, including last year’s winner Ousmane Dembele.<\/p>\n Real Madrid forwards Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr also make the shortlist, as do Arsenal defenders Gabriel and William Saliba.<\/p>\n The award is celebrating its 70th anniversary, having been created by France Football in 1956, and the winner will be announced at an ceremony in London on 26 October.<\/p>\n The “symbolic choice of venue” is in tribute to former England player Sir Stanley Matthews, who won the first Ballon d’Or. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n