Mane and Quinones in running for Ballon d'Or; Bono, Mendy vie for best goalkeeper
Roshn Saudi League duo Sadio Mane and Julian Quinones have been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with fellow top-flight stars Yassine Bono and Edouard Mendy also making the shortlist for Goalkeeper of the Year.
Al Nassr forward Mane has been recognised for a fine year thus far in which he helped Senegal capture the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before then playing an integral role in his club’s 2025-26 RSL title triumph.
It represented Al Nassr’s first league success in seven years, with Mane scoring 10 goals and recording six assists.
The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich man made the 30-player Ballon d'Or shortlist announced on Tuesday, where he will vie for the award alongside Al Qadsiah counterpart Quinones.
While the Mexico international might have finished fourth in the RSL with his club, he concluded the 2025-26 campaign as the league’s top scorer, his hat-trick on the final day taking him to 33 goals and above Ivan Toney in the race for the golden boot.
Quinones then carried that form into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Playing on home soil, he etched his name in history by netting the first goal of the tournament and then went on to add two more as Mexico reached the last 16.
Speaking on Tuesdya night after he scored in Al Qadsiah's 3-2 victory against Al Ahli, Quinones said of the nomination: “I’m very proud to have achieved this. I’ve worked hard for this moment and now it has happened.
"God’s timing is always perfect. I just try to keep working hard, improving and being the best I can be.”
Al Qadsiah manager Brendan Rodgers added: “Firstly, it's absolutely amazing for Julian. It recognises the impact he has had in the Saudi Pro League and the confidence that he takes from playing here into his international team.
"It’s a huge credit for everyone: for him, for his teammates here and for the club as a whole. And, of course, it’s great recognition for the Pro League. So, it's good for everyone.”
Competing for football’s premier individual prize, Mane and Quinones are going up against the likes of Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, Real Madrid trio Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane.
The winner of the award, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, will be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26.
Meanwhile, Al Hilal’s Bono and Al Ahli’s Mendy are among the 10 players contesting the best goalkeeper honour. Mendy was part of the victorious Senegal side at the Africa Cup of Nations before he captained Al Ahli to a second successive AFC Champions League Elite trophy.
Bono lifted silverware with his club, too, as Al Hilal landed the 2025-26 King's Cup and also went through the entire RSL campaign undefeated to finish runner-up to Al Nassr. Bono then helped Morocco reach the World Cup quarter-finals in North America.
