Ballon d’Or
Ballon d’Or
Arsenal have three players nominated for the 2026 Men’s Ballon d’Or, with Gabriel, Declan Rice and William Saliba all included on the prestigious shortlist.
The trio have been recognised among the leading players in world football, giving Arsenal three representatives in the main men’s individual award.
Gabriel is included after another influential season at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, while Saliba has once again been recognised among the elite defenders in European football.
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Rice completes the Arsenal trio after continuing to establish himself as one of the most important players in Mikel Arteta’s side.
The England international has become a key figure for Arsenal since his move from West Ham, contributing at both ends of the pitch while playing an increasingly important role in midfield.
The three nominations add to a significant Ballon d’Or presence for Arsenal this year.
Arteta has been nominated for the Men’s Coach of the Year award, while David Raya is in contention for Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
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Arsenal have also been nominated for the Men’s Club of the Year prize, meaning the club is represented across several of the major categories at the 2026 ceremony.
Gabriel, Rice and Saliba will face competition from some of the biggest names in world football.
The published nominees include Jude Bellingham, Ousmane Dembélé, Luis Díaz, Bruno Fernandes, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, Vinícius Jr and several other leading stars.
OUR 2026 MEN’S BALLON D’OR NOMINEES!
🏴 Jude Bellingham
🇪🇸 Pau Cubarsí
🇪🇸 Marc Cucurella
🇫🇷 Ousmane Dembélé
🇨🇴 Luis Díaz
🇵🇹 Bruno Fernandes
🇧🇷 Gabriel
🇳🇴 Erling Haaland
🇲🇦 Achraf Hakimi
🏴 Harry Kane
🇬🇪 Khvitcha Kvaratskhelia
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal
🇸🇳 Sadio Mané
🇧🇷 Marquinhos
🇦🇷…
— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
For Arsenal, having three players included in the main Ballon d’Or nominations represents further recognition of the quality within Arteta’s squad.
Gabriel and Saliba have formed an important partnership in defence, while Rice has become a central figure in Arsenal’s midfield since his arrival.
The nominations also underline how highly Arsenal’s leading players are now regarded on the international stage.
The final Ballon d’Or rankings will determine where each nominee finishes, with the winner set to be crowned at the ceremony later this year.
Arsenal will therefore have plenty of interest in the event, with Gabriel, Rice, Saliba, Raya and Arteta all competing for individual honours while the club itself is also nominated for Men’s Club of the Year.
It gives the Gunners a strong presence across the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards and provides further recognition for the players who have played key roles in Arsenal’s recent success.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres