Ballon d’Or 2026: Ronaldo, Raphinha and 3 Other Stars Who Missed Out
Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphinha, Pedri and other stars missed out on the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist. Here are five notable omissions.
The official 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist is out, but several big names were surprisingly left off the list. Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona winger Raphinha headline the notable omissions, while three other stars also failed to make the shortlist.
5 Biggest Names Who Missed Out on Ballon d’or Nomination
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
The 5 time Ballon d’Or winner will miss out once more, having not been nominated since 2022. His absence is hardly new at this stage, but Ronaldo remains one of the biggest names in world football and his omission will still attract noise from fans worldwide.
2. Raphinha
Raphinha’s exclusion is one of the biggest surprises. The Barcelona forward had been among the names tipped for the shortlist but was left out despite his strong season for club and country.
3. Pedri
Another Barcelona player failed to make the final 30 despite being one of the most highly rated midfielders in world football. His omission is particularly notable given Spain’s World Cup and La Liga success and the number of Spanish players who made the list.
4. Fermín López
The Barcelona midfielder was another notable omission from the final 30-man list. Fermín had featured in discussions around Spain and Barcelona’s leading players, making his absence from the shortlist surprising.
5. Désiré Doué
The PSG youngster was also left out despite his rise and being among the names discussed for a place on the shortlist. PSG nevertheless dominate the final list, with nine players nominated.
The omissions will inevitably fuel debate, especially with the 30-man list containing some less obvious names. The Ballon d’Or winner will be announced at the ceremony in London on October 26.
