Golden Ball 70th Anniversary Context

The 70th anniversary of the Golden Ball will be celebrated in 2026, with the ceremony scheduled for October 26 at the London Palladium in honour of the award’s first winner, Stanley Matthews. Over seven decades the award has expanded from a Europe‑only accolade evaluated on a calendar year to a global, season‑based honour.

PSG Sets New Nomination Record

Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG) has achieved a club‑record ten players on the 30‑man Golden Ball shortlist, surpassing the nine nominees it fielded in the previous year. The nominated players are Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, and Vitinha; Ferran Torres, who joined the club in the summer, also earned a nomination, underscoring PSG’s appeal.

Additional Category Representation

Beyond the main individual award, PSG is represented in four further categories: best club, best coach, best goalkeeper, and best player under 21, reflecting the club’s comprehensive excellence across the competition.

Historical Golden Ball Links

PSG’s involvement in the Golden Ball dates back to 1979 when João Alves finished 21st. In 1983 Safet Sušić placed 15th, and Luis Fernández entered the top‑20 twice (12th in 1985 and 17th in 1986). George Weah, who began the 1995 calendar year at PSG before moving to AC Milan, won the award that year. Lionel Messi captured the Golden Ball while at PSG in 2021, and Ousmane Dembélé repeated the feat in 2025.

Player Performance Highlights in the 2026 Champions League

  • Ousmane Dembélé, the reigning Golden Ball winner, contributed eight goals and two assists across 13 Champions League matches.
  • Achraf Hakimi recorded six assists, tying for the third‑highest assist total in the competition.
  • Khvicha Kvaratskhelia amassed 16 goal contributions, setting a record for a Georgian player in a single edition and earning the UEFA Champions League Player of the Season award.
  • Marquinhos became PSG’s all‑time leader in European appearances.
  • Willian Pacho led the tournament with 105 ball recoveries.
  • Fabián Ruiz distinguished himself as the sole player to win both the Champions League and the World Cup in the same year.
  • Vitinha was named Player of the Match in the final against Arsenal.

Coaching and Club Achievements

Coach Luis Enrique, also nominated, guided PSG to retain the Champions League title, making the club only the second in the modern era to achieve back‑to‑back victories. The triumph over Arsenal in Budapest secured Enrique’s third Champions League win and triggered a contract extension through the summer of 2030. Goalkeeper Matvey Safonov is noted as the second PSG goalkeeper after Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Sponsorship Partnership

PSG’s partnership with betting firm 1xBet, established in 2022, continues to reinforce the club’s status as a global football brand, with 1xBet serving as an official partner and aligning its marketing with PSG’s participation in major football events.

Outlook to the Awards Night

Regardless of the eventual winners on October 26, PSG has already secured a historic presence across all key Golden Ball categories, cementing its position as a rule‑setter rather than a mere participant.

Disclaimer

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