Bayern Munich will be strongly represented at the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony on October 26th. The German record champions have nominees across multiple categories of the prestigious award, as reported by Sportschau.
Harry Kane leads the list of Bayern candidates for the main men's award. The English striker had an outstanding season with 73 goals for Bayern and the German national team. For this, he already received the Golden Shoe award and was named German Footballer of the Year. Kane himself said: "The season I played was by far my best, and now we have to wait and see what happens." Manager Vincent Kompany is also nominated after winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in his second season at Bayern.
Which other Bayern players are nominated?
Alongside Kane, Dayot Upamecano, Michael Olise, and Luis Diaz are also nominated for the men's Ballon d'Or. In women's football, three Bayern players are on the list: Klara Bühl, Pernille Harder, and Momoko Tanikawa. Bühl is the only German player among the women's top 30. In the youth category, Lennart Karl has a chance for the Ballon d'Or for the best U21 players. Former Ballon d'Or winners choose this award, while journalists vote in all other categories.
What are the chances for the Bayern nominees?
Kane is among the extended favorites for the win but faces strong competition. Rodri and Lamine Yamal from FC Barcelona are considered favorites, as are Kylian Mbappé from Real Madrid and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia from Paris Saint-Germain. Veterans Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are also in the top 30. Notably, no German player is nominated in the men's ranking. For the women, Alexia Putellas is a major favorite, while Aitana Bonmatí is absent due to injury. Bayern's current injury situation can be checked on our injuries page.
What other nominations are there?
Bayern Munich itself is nominated as the best club for the Ballon d'Or. The competition in this category comes from Arsenal, FK Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo, and Paris Saint-Germain. Among goalkeepers, Berger from Gotham FC is nominated for the women, and Gregor Kobel from Borussia Dortmund for the men. Vozinha from Cape Verde completes the goalkeeper field. In the U21 category, alongside Bayern talent Lennart Karl, Ibrahim Maza from Bayer Leverkusen and Yan Diomandé and Johan Manzambi, both former players of RB Leipzig and SC Freiburg, are up for election.
What does this mean for the season planning?
The numerous nominations highlight Bayern Munich's sporting strength from the past season. For the current 2026/27 campaign, this provides additional motivation. The nomination as best club is a special honor for the entire organization. The team's upcoming fixtures, where the nominated players can prove their quality again, are listed in the fixtures schedule. The Ballon d'Or ceremony takes place on October 26th in Paris.
