Ballon d'Or 2026: Salah, Raphinha, Lewandowski, these players nominated in 2025 absent this year

Fourteen players nominated for the Ballon d'Or 2025 are absent from the 2026 selection, including Mohamed Salah, Raphinha, Cole Palmer, and Gianluigi Donnarumma, all of whom finished in the Top 10 last year. Their absence highlights the annual evolution of the trophy contenders, which will be awarded on October 26 in London. Other notable absentees include Pedri, Désiré Doué, and Robert Lewandowski.