Africa: Ballon d'Or 2026 - Full List of African Footballers Nominated

What the report says

Several African footballers have been named among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, according to Vanguard’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The shortlist highlighted players from Morocco, Senegal, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire and Algeria, underscoring the continent’s presence across two categories: Men’s Young Talent of the Year and Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

For the youth award, the African nominees listed were Ayyoub Bouaddi of Morocco, Yan Diomandé of Côte d’Ivoire and Ibrahim Maza of Algeria. The article noted that Bouaddi, who plays for Manchester City, has stood out for his performances at club and international level, while Diomandé was described as having had a strong first season at RB Leipzig. Maza was also presented as a player attracting attention through his club and national-team form.

The goalkeeping category includes Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, Senegal’s Édouard Mendy and Cape Verde’s Vozinha. The report said these nominations reflect the continued visibility of African players among top individual honors in world football. By bringing together established internationals and emerging talents, the list offers a snapshot of African influence in the sport’s global awards conversation.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for London on October 26, where winners in the various categories are expected to be announced.