African footballers feature across several categories at the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, with two players on the men’s shortlist, three goalkeepers in contention for the Yashin Trophy and three more nominated for the Kopa Trophy as the best young player in the world.
The nominees were announced on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, ahead of the gala ceremony in Paris later this year.
Men’s Ballon d’Or
Two Africans made the 30-man shortlist for the main men’s award:Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, Paris Saint-Germain), Sadio Mané (Senegal, Al-Nassr)Hakimi, 27, has been a key figure for PSG and Morocco, while Mané continues to be one of Africa’s most decorated forwards. They join a star-studded list that includes Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.
Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper)
Three African goalkeepers are in the running for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper of the season:Yassine Bounou (Morocco), Édouard Mendy (Senegal), Vozinha (Cape Verde). Vozinha, who became a national hero after his performances at the 2026 World Cup, is nominated alongside Spain’s Unai Simón and Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez.
Kopa Trophy (Best Young Player)
Africa also has a strong presence in the Kopa Trophy race, with three young players nominated:Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco), Yan Diomandé (Côte d’Ivoire), Ibrahim Maza (Algeria)All three have broken through at top European clubs and are seen as part of the next generation of African talent.
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