Ballon d’Or Top 10 Revealed: Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Lamine Yamal Lead Finalists While Marquee Stars Miss the Cut

The field for world soccer’s most prestigious individual prize is down to the wire, with the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or finalists officially narrowed to the final ten contenders ahead of the awards ceremony. Global icons like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and teenage sensation Lamine Yamal secured their spots in the elite men’s tier, while powerhouses like Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham were locked out of the podium race.

Votes cast for the remaining 20 spots have already finalized the lower half of the table, setting the stage for the definitive trophy reveals on DAZN. The cutoff line created immediate shockwaves across the sport, leaving several perennial favorites ranked well outside the top ten.

Here is the definitive breakdown of who remains in contention for the golden trophy, how the lower field stacked up, and where soccer fans can watch the awards unfold.

Serie A on DAZN 2026-27

The Final 10 Contenders for the Men’s Ballon d’Or

The winner of the primary men’s honor will come exclusively from these ten names, representing the absolute peak of club and international performance:

• Ousmane Dembélé
• Erling Haaland
• Harry Kane
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
• Kylian Mbappé
• Lionel Messi
• Michael Olise
• Fabián Ruiz
• Rodri
• Lamine Yamal

A widespread misconception heading into the reveal was that dominant club runs would guarantee top-ten placement for every headline player. Instead, the final voting showed that even standout Champions League campaigns could not shield top-tier superstars from falling into the lower rungs.

The margin between tenth place and the rest of the ballot often comes down to single-vote swings across global ballots.

The official voting point totals placed positions 11 through 30 as follows:

• 11. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid / England)
• 12. Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona / Spain)
• 13. Achraf Hakimi (PSG / Morocco)
• 14. Vitinha (PSG / Portugal)
• 15. Declan Rice (Arsenal / England)
• 16. Ferran Torres (Barcelona, PSG / Spain)
• 17. Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid / Brazil)
• 18. Marc Cucurella (Chelsea, Real Madrid / Spain)
• 19. João Neves (PSG / Portugal)
• 20. Willian Pacho (PSG / Ecuador)
• 21. Gabriel (Arsenal / Brazil)
• 22. Lautaro Martínez (Inter / Argentina)
• 23. Nuno Mendes (PSG / Portugal)
• 24. Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich / Colombia)
• 25. Marquinhos (PSG / Brazil)
• 26. Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich / France)
• 27. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United / Portugal)
• 28. Julian Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah / Mexico)
• 29. William Saliba (Arsenal / France) [Tied]
• 29. Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr / Senegal) [Tied]

The Elite Field: Ballon d’Or Féminin Finalists

The competition for the Ballon d’Or Féminin proved just as fierce, driven by domestic domination across Europe and North America.

The ten women who reached the final tier feature a heavy presence from FC Barcelona and international powerhouses:

• Temwa Chawinga (Kansas City / Malawi)
• Melchie Dumornay (Lyon / Haiti)
• Caroline Graham Hansen
• Patri Guijarro (Barcelona / Spain)
• Pernille Harder (Bayern Munich / Denmark)
• Ewa Pajor (Barcelona / Poland)
• Clàudia Pina (Barcelona / Spain)
• Alexia Putellas (Barcelona, London City Lionesses / Spain)
• Alessia Russo (Arsenal / England)
• Khadija Shaw (Manchester City / Jamaica)

The remaining 20 spots reflect key international names, including US national team presence and NWSL stars:

• 11. Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City / Japan)
• 12. Klara Buhl (Bayern Munich / Germany)
• 13. Mariona Caldentey (Arsenal / Spain)
• 14. Wendie Renard (Lyon / France)
• 15. Cata Coll (Barcelona / Spain)
• 16. Mapi Leon (London City Lionesses / Spain)
• 17. Esmee Brugts (Barcelona / Netherlands)
• 18. Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride / Zambia)
• 19. Tessa Wullaert (Inter, Como / Spain)
• 20. Selma Balcha (Lyon / France)
• 21. Scalett Camerbos (Club America / Mexico)
• 22. Manaka Matsukubo (Chelsea / Japan)
• 23. Momoko Tanikawa (Bayern Munich / Japan)
• 24. Kerstin Casparij (Manchester City / Netherlands)
• 25. Caroline Weir (Real Madrid, Lyon / Scotland)
• 26. Alex Greenwood (Manchester City / England)
• 27. Rose Lavelle (Gotham FC / USA)
• 28. Lorena (Kansas City / Brazil) [Tied]
• 28. Melvine Malard (Chelsea / France) [Tied]
• 28. Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City / Netherlands) [Tied]

Comparing the Final Top 10 Pools

Both categories feature a tight balance between veteran mainstays and emerging talents competing for world soccer’s top honor.

How to Watch the Ceremony and Live Soccer Broadcasts

The gala airs live on DAZN, which serves as a primary home for international and domestic soccer across multiple territories.

Broadcast Availability by Region

• United States: Coverage includes every match of the Serie A season, alongside three Spanish-language Champions League fixtures per round.
• Canada: Fans receive complete live access to every match of the Premier League and Champions League seasons.
• United Kingdom: Coverage features every match from Serie A, plus live and on-demand fixtures from the National League.
• FIFA+ on DAZN: Delivers over 7,000 live matches annually, official World Cup archives, full-length films, and original docuseries at no added cost.

💬 With Vinicius Jr finishing at 17 and Jude Bellingham just missing out at 11, the voting committee clearly prioritized distinct international and club moments.

✨ The final ballots will determine whether established winners add another trophy to their collection or an emerging talent claims the honor for the first time.

📱 Drop your thoughts in the comments below: Did the voters get the top ten right, or was your favorite player snubbed?

👇 Share this breakdown with your fellow soccer fans before the final envelope opens.