The omission of five outstanding players from the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist has sparked questions about the criteria used to select the nominees, with their performances throughout the season providing strong arguments for inclusion.
France Football announced its 30-man shortlist on September 8, featuring leading contenders such as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi ahead of the ceremony in London.
Although winning trophies remains an important consideration, individual performances, consistency and contributions in major competitions should also influence the selection process. Five players, in particular, have strong cases for being included among the nominees.
The following is a numerical list of the five players who deserved a place on the 2026 Ballon d’Or 30-man shortlist and the reasons for their inclusion.
Désiré Doué (Paris Saint-Germain/France)
Doué has a strong case for inclusion after playing an important role in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League triumph. The French forward contributed five goals and four assists during the European campaign, helping PSG retain the title. He also scored 13 goals in 41 club appearances as the French champions won Ligue 1. Doué started the Champions League final against Arsenal in Budapest and converted his penalty during the shootout. He subsequently featured eight times for France at the World Cup, scoring once and providing an assist.
Raphinha (Barcelona/Brazil)
Despite suffering several injury setbacks, Raphinha delivered impressive numbers for Barcelona during the season. The Brazilian recorded 21 goals and eight assists in 33 club appearances, contributing 29 direct goal involvements. His injuries limited his opportunities to strengthen his case at international level, including at the World Cup, where he made only two appearances. Nevertheless, his attacking output and influence at Barcelona provided a compelling argument for a place among the 30 nominees.
Pedri (Barcelona/Spain)
Pedri’s influence in Barcelona’s midfield extended beyond goals and assists. His ability to control the tempo, distribute possession and create opportunities under pressure helped the Catalan club win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. The midfielder recorded two goals and 12 assists in 43 club appearances. He also featured in all eight of Spain’s World Cup matches as the national team won the tournament. Having finished 11th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, Pedri had another strong season that merited serious consideration.
David Raya (Arsenal/Spain)
Raya was instrumental in Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph, keeping 19 clean sheets as the club won its first league championship since 2004. The Spanish goalkeeper recorded 28 clean sheets across all club competitions and secured his third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove. He also helped Arsenal reach the Champions League final, saving Nuno Mendes’ penalty in the shootout before PSG eventually won. Although defensive organisation contributed to his achievements, Raya’s consistency and decisive saves made him a strong candidate for the main Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid/Argentina)
Álvarez completed the club season with 20 goals and nine assists across La Liga, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. Although Atlético Madrid finished without a trophy, the Argentine forward helped the team reach the Champions League semi-finals and the domestic cup final. He also made an important contribution to Argentina’s World Cup campaign, scoring their second goal in an extra-time quarter-final victory over Switzerland. His goals, work rate and performances in major competitions strengthened his argument for nomination despite Atlético’s failure to win silverware.
The five omissions highlight the difficulty of selecting only 30 players for football’s most prestigious individual award. While each player had different circumstances affecting their campaign, their performances offered credible reasons for inclusion.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will determine the eventual winner, but the absence of Doué, Raphinha, Pedri, Raya and Álvarez is likely to remain a subject of debate among supporters and football analysts.
