Achraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco) and Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr/Senegal) are the only two Africans among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, whose ceremony takes place on Monday 26 October at the London Palladium.
The 70th edition of the Ballon d’Or is being held this Monday 26 October at the London Palladium, a first outside France, according to Wikipedia. Kick-off is set for 20:00 GMT, 21:00 in Paris, according to UEFA. Among the 30 nominees for the men’s trophy, only two players are flying the flag for Africa: Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi and Senegalese forward Sadio Mané, reports Foot-sur7.
The men’s trophy will be awarded following a vote by a panel of 100 sports journalists, according to CBS Sports. Hakimi and Mané are both captains of their national teams and are among the names to watch on the night.
Hakimi, Morocco captain and African accolade
Achraf Hakimi, Morocco’s defender and captain, played last season for Paris Saint-Germain: 3 goals and 9 assists in 32 matches, according to Senego.
Above all, he was voted 2025 African Player of the Year in Rabat, ahead of Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen, again according to Senego. He had also finished 6th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, according to Foot-sur7.
Mané, twice African Player of the Year
At 34, the Al-Nassr forward played 55 matches in all competitions, with 24 goals and 13 assists in 2025-2026, reports L’Observateur.
The Senegalese has already been named African Player of the Year twice, in 2019 and 2022, according to Footballafrik. He had also finished 2nd in the 2022 Ballon d’Or, according to Foot-sur7. Only George Weah, in 1995, has won the trophy for Africa.
Ten Africans across the other awards
Beyond the men’s trophy, Africa is represented in other categories: ten Africans feature among the nominees across all the awards, including the Kopa Trophy with Ayyoub Bouaddi, Ibrahim Maza and Yan Diomandé, according to Afrique-sur7.
The evening is co-hosted by Thierry Henry, co-presenter of the ceremony. For both Hakimi and Mané, it is being held outside France for the first time.
The men’s trophy vote will name the winner on Monday night, at 21:00 in Paris, at the London Palladium.