England’s Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice make Ballon d’Or shortlist

The Bayern Munich sharpshooter is the bookmakers’ favourite to pick up the prestigious trophy on October 26, when the event will be held in London for the first time.

Kane scored 73 goals in 65 matches for club and country during a season that saw him win another Bundesliga title and captain England to bronze at the World Cup.

Holder Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Kylian Mbappe are among the 33-year-old’s rivals for the award, which was last won by an Englishman in 2001 when Michael Owen collected the trophy.

Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel, Erling Haaland and William Saliba join Rice as current Premier League players vying for a trophy that will be handed out at the London Palladium.

England internationals Alessia Russo and Alex Greenwood are among the 30-strong shortlist for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, as are recent London City Lionesses arrivals Mapi Leon and Alexia Putellas.

Mariona Caldentey, Kerstin Casparij, Yui Hasegawa, Melvine Malard, Manaka Matsukubo, Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw complete the Women’s Super League representatives.

Scotland international Caroline Weir, who move from Real Madrid to Lyon in the summer, is another nominated.

Lamine Yamal headlines the Men’s Young Talent of the Year shortlist, which includes Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi.

Manchester City new boy Ayyoub Bouaddi and recent Aston Villa acquisition Johan Manzambi are also nominated, while Chelsea’s Veerle Buurman is up for the women’s accolade.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and Aston Villa’s Unai Emery are up for Men’s Coach of the Year, with shot-stoppers David Raya of Arsenal and Emiliano Martinez – now of Chelsea – up for Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

Vozinha, 40, has also been nominated after the Cape Verde goalkeeper’s World Cup exploits.

England and Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton is in the running for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award she won in 2025, as is Manchester City’s Japan international Ayaka Yamashita.

City boss Andree Jeglertz is up for Women’s Coach of the Year and his club are in the running for Women’s Club of the Year. Arsenal are nominated for Men’s Club of the Year.

This is the 70th anniversary of the Ballon d’Or, which was created by France Football and has been co-organised with UEFA since 2024.

This year’s event has been moved from Paris to London in tribute to the inaugural winner, England and Blackpool star Stanley Matthews.