Sadio Mane has been named on the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, four years after leaving Liverpool and three since moving to Saudi Arabia.
Mane departed Liverpool for Bayern Munich in 2022, but after a tumultuous season in Germany he joined Saudi side Al-Nassr.
He has spent the past three seasons in the Middle East and is now in the final year of his contract as he prepares to turn 35 in April.
But despite entering the autumn of his career, Mane is still considered one of the top 30 players in the world in 2026.
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 24, 2018: Senegal's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group H match against Japan at Yekaterinburg Arena. Sergei Bobylev/TASS
YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 24, 2018: Senegal's Sadio Mane celebrates scoring in a 2018 FIFA World Cup Group H match against Japan at Yekaterinburg Arena. Sergei Bobylev/TASS
He has been named on the Ballon d’Or shortlist ahead of this year’s awards in October, as one of only two current or former Liverpool players nominated.
It comes after a year in which he lifted the Africa Cup of Nations, only to see the Confederation of African Football award it to fellow finalists Morocco due to an in-game protest from the Senegal players.
Mane also scored 14 goals and laid on nine assists in 36 games for Al-Nassr last season to win his first Saudi Pro League title.
MADRID, SPAIN - SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2019: Liverpool's Sadio Mane with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Estadio Metropolitano. Liverpool won 2-0 to win their sixth European Cup. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
MADRID, SPAIN - SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2019: Liverpool's Sadio Mane with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Liverpool FC at the Estadio Metropolitano. Liverpool won 2-0 to win their sixth European Cup. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He has begun the new campaign with two goals and three assists in six appearances, after a World Cup which saw him start every game for Senegal.
The 34-year-old is, of course, not among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or, with Harry Kane and Lamine Yamal the front-runners.
Mane was however runner-up for the award in 2022, which was also the last time he was nominated – in total, he has been up for the prize on five occasions, also finishing fourth in 2019.
Luis Diaz bagged a brace and saw red in the first half of Paris St Germain’s victory (Thibault Camus/AP)
Luis Diaz bagged a brace and saw red in the first half of Paris St Germain’s victory (Thibault Camus/AP)
Luis Diaz is the other former Liverpool player to be nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, after further boosting his credentials in his first season with Bayern Munich.
The Colombian joined Bayern for £65.6 million and went on to score 26 goals and lay on 23 assists in 51 games to help his side win a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double.
He was also last nominated in 2022, when at the time six Liverpool players were up for the prize, with Mane and Diaz joined by Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Darwin Nunez on the shortlist.
The Ballon d’Or is currently held by Ousmane Dembele, who is again nominated but considered unlikely to retain.
2026 Ballon d’Or Nominees
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Argentina's Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Algeria in Kansas City, Mo., Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid)
Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain)
Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich)
Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
Gabriel (Arsenal)
Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Paris Saint-Germain)
Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)
Sadio Mane (Al Nassr)
Lisandro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain)
William Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain)
Julian Quinones (Al-Qadsiah)
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Rodri (Man City/Barcelona)
Fabian Ruiz (Paris Saint-Germain)
Ferran Torres (Barcelona/PSG)
William Saliba (Arsenal)
Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)
Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain)
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Football – FA Premier League – Newcastle United FC v Liverpool FC
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Araujo Gravenberch
Araujo Gravenberch