Real Madrid and PSG lead Ballon d’Or nominees with nine each ahead of 2026 award

DAILY POST reports that Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain each have nine players nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, the most of any club. Barcelona and Bayern Munich follow with seven nominees each. The list includes repeat nominees such as Kylian Mbappé, Bernardo Silva, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid, and Ousmane Dembélé (the 2025 winner), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha for PSG. Other clubs with multiple nominees are Arsenal (5), Manchester City (5), Liverpool (4), AC Milan (4), and Atlético Madrid (4).

For Nigerian football fans, this shows where the current Ballon d’Or contenders are concentrated, helping identify which clubs’ players to watch during the upcoming season. While none of the listed nominees are based in Nigeria, the presence of African-born players like Achraf Hakimi (Morocco) and Ademola Lookman (England, born to Nigerian parents) highlights the continent’s growing influence in global football.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner will be announced in London in a few weeks. Fans can follow the ceremony via sports broadcasters or online platforms, and consider how club performance may affect individual award chances. Knowing which clubs have the most nominees also gives context for discussions about team strength and player value in fantasy leagues or casual debates.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/25/ballon-dor-clubs-that-have-most-nominees-in-current-squad/