Ballon d’Or 2026 voting ends today as frontrunners named for London Oct 26 ceremony

Voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or closes today, September 28, 2026. An international jury of selected journalists from the top 100 FIFA-ranked nations will decide the men’s award, while a jury of 50 specialised journalists from the top 50 FIFA-ranked nations will vote for the women’s award. Men’s frontrunners include Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) and Rodri (Barcelona). Women’s frontrunners are Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw of Manchester City and Alexia Putellas, who has left Barcelona for London City Lionesses. The ceremony will be held in London, UK on October 26. Current holders are Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati.

For Nigerian football fans, the Ballon d’Or remains the pinnacle individual honour in global football, shaping perceptions of player legacy and inspiring aspirations. Although no African players appear among the current frontrunners, the outcome influences transfer markets, endorsement deals and youth motivation worldwide, including in Nigeria where fans follow European leagues closely. The London ceremony adds a high-profile event for the sport’s calendar.

Voting ends today, so results are expected soon after September 28. Fans can follow official Ballon d’Or channels or reputable sports outlets for the announcement. The ceremony on October 26 will be streamed globally; note the date if planning to watch. Knowing the frontrunners helps contextualise the upcoming winner and understand trends in elite performance.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/28/2026-ballon-dor-winner-set-to-be-decided-as-voting-ends/