Achraf Hakimi has been named among 30 contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with fellow Moroccans Ayoub Bouaddi and Yassine Bounou shortlisted for the young player and goalkeeper awards respectively.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender joins a field featuring defending winner Ousmane Dembélé and six members of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad: Lamine Yamal, Pau Cubarsí, Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Marc Cucurella and Ferran Torres.
Eight-time winner Lionel Messi is also nominated after Argentina’s run to the World Cup final, while Kylian Mbappé enters contention after becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer this summer.
With several European champions from PSG shortlisted, coach Luis Enrique has argued that the award should go to one of his players. Captain Marquinhos, himself a nominee, echoed that view but declined to name a favorite.
In the young player category, Bouaddi, 18, who joined Manchester City, faces competition from Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza, the 20-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.
Bounou’s goalkeeper rivals include Thibaut Courtois, Emiliano Martínez, Unai Simón and David Raya.
The women’s shortlist excludes Aitana Bonmatí, winner of the past three editions, but includes former Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas, now at London City Lionesses. The winners will be announced in roughly six weeks, with the men’s race still appearing open.
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