Africa will have a strong presence at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, with 10 footballers from the continent nominated across four major award categories.
The nominations, announced by France Football on September 8, include Senegal forward Sadio Mané and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi among the 30 contenders for the men’s Ballon d’Or. Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga are also shortlisted for the women’s award, while three African goalkeepers and three young talents feature in their respective categories.
The recognition arrives after a landmark year for African football, particularly at the international level. Nine of Africa’s 10 representatives reached the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding further weight to the continent’s growing influence on the global game.
Mané and Hakimi Lead Africa’s Men’s Representation
Sadio Mané returns to the men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist after another productive season for club and country. The Senegalese forward played a decisive role in his country’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, scoring the winning goal in the semi-final against Egypt.
His performances throughout the tournament earned him the Player of the Tournament award as Senegal went on to win the competition. Mané also remained an important figure for Senegal during their impressive World Cup campaign.
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Achraf Hakimi joins him on the 30-man shortlist after an outstanding season with Paris Saint-Germain. The Morocco international was instrumental in PSG’s historic UEFA Champions League triumph and continued to establish himself as one of the most influential attacking full-backs in world football.
Hakimi also featured prominently for Morocco at AFCON, having returned from injury to contribute to the Atlas Lions’ campaign. His nomination follows his 2025 CAF African Player of the Year award.
Banda, Chawinga and Three Goalkeepers Make History
African women’s football also has two representatives on the 30-player Ballon d’Or shortlist. Zambia captain Barbra Banda and Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga earned nominations after impressive seasons at club and international level.
Banda enjoyed another productive campaign with Orlando Pride, scoring 14 goals and providing one assist in 21 appearances during the 2025/26 season. Her international performances have also kept her among Africa’s leading football stars.
Chawinga, meanwhile, scored 15 goals and recorded three assists in 22 appearances for Kansas City Current. She also finished as the leading scorer at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The goalkeeper category provides another significant moment, with Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, Senegal’s Édouard Mendy and Cape Verde’s Vozinha nominated for the Yashin Trophy.
Vozinha’s inclusion is particularly notable following Cape Verde’s historic World Cup debut and knockout-stage qualification.
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Africa’s Next Generation Joins the Conversation
The continent’s representation extends to the Kopa Trophy, which recognises the best young player in world football.
Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, Côte d’Ivoire’s Yan Diomandé and Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza are among the 10 nominees. Bouaddi earns a second consecutive nomination after another impressive period with Lille, while Diomandé and Maza have continued attracting attention through their club and international performances.
With 10 nominees spread across four categories, Africa’s presence at the 2026 Ballon d’Or reflects the depth of talent emerging from the continent. The winners will be announced at the London Palladium on October 26, with the ceremony also marking the 70th anniversary of the prestigious award.
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