Arsenal and Mikel Arteta have both been recognised in the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards after the club’s Premier League title-winning campaign.
The Gunners have been named among five nominees for Men’s Club of the Year, while Arteta has made the shortlist for the Men’s Coach of the Year, also known as the Johan Cruyff Trophy.
The nominations were officially announced by the Ballon d’Or on Tuesday.
Fully deserved 👏
Mikel Arteta has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Coach of the Year award 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 8, 2026
Arsenal nominated for 2026 Club of the Year
Arsenal will compete with Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain for Men’s Club of the Year.
Recognition follows an outstanding 2025/26 campaign in which Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for the Premier League title.
Arteta’s side also reached the Champions League final, where PSG eventually beat them on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Budapest.
ReadArsenal’s 2025/26 season awards looked back at the players and performances which helped transform that campaign into one of the club’s most successful of the Premier League era.
PSG are the current holders of the men’s club award and will again provide Arsenal with significant competition after retaining the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta makes Coach of the Year shortlist
Arteta’s title success has also earned him individual recognition.
The official Coach of the Year shortlist contains Arteta, Luis de la Fuente, Unai Emery, Vincent Kompany and Luis Enrique.
De la Fuente led Spain to the World Cup, Luis Enrique won another Champions League with PSG and Emery delivered the Europa League for Aston Villa.
Arteta’s nomination nevertheless reflects just how far Arsenal have progressed under the Spaniard.
He recently reached 250 Premier League matches in charge of Arsenal, having taken the club from outside the Champions League positions to defending English champions.
The winners will be announced at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on 26 October.
Further player award shortlists are also being announced throughout Tuesday, meaning Arsenal could yet receive additional individual nominations.
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