The 2026 Onze d’Or award, organized by the French magazine Onze Mondial, is set to crown its next champion through a global fan vote, a tradition that has defined the prize since 1976.
A Fan‑Driven Honor
This year’s shortlist features a mix of established stars and emerging talents, with Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane among the names that have captured the imagination of voters.
Yamal, fresh from leading Spain to a World Cup victory, had finished second in the 2025 edition by a razor‑thin margin of just 2.5 percent, a result that underscores the competitiveness of the fan‑driven contest.
The voting mechanism is simple: supporters cast their ballots on the official Onze Mondial website, making the process as democratic as it is passionate, and allowing the worldwide soccer community to shape the outcome.
The award’s deep ties to Lionel Messi are evident; the Argentine legend holds the record with four titles, and the magazine’s history is peppered with Barcelona greats such as Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Thierry Henry and Hristo Stoichkov, all of whom have lifted the trophy.
Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which relies on a panel of journalists, the Onze d’Or puts the spotlight squarely on public enthusiasm, turning every match, every highlight reel and every social media post into a potential influence on the final tally.
As the shortlist also includes players like Ousmane Dembélé, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Michael Olise, Bruno Fernandes, João Neves, William Saliba, Vitinha and Declan Rice, the final vote promises to reflect not only individual brilliance but also the evolving narrative of the sport.