Sadio Mane has finished 29th in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sharing the position with France and Real Madrid defender William Saliba.
The Senegal forward, who plays for Al Nassr, was among the 30 nominees after being named the best player at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. However, his final ranking leaves him well short of the heights he reached in previous editions of the award.
Mane, 34, had not appeared on the Ballon d’Or shortlist for four years before returning to the nominations for the prize organised by France Football.
His selection reflected a productive season for Al Nassr as well as his contribution to Senegal’s national team. He scored 14 goals and provided nine assists in 34 appearances for the Saudi Arabian club last season, underlining his continued influence in attack.
The former Liverpool player also made a significant impact at international level. After helping Senegal to success at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Mane was named the tournament’s best player. His performances reinforced his importance to the Lions of Teranga.
Despite those achievements, Mane did not challenge for a place near the top of the Ballon d’Or standings. The winner of the 2026 award is due to be announced in London on Monday evening, with Mane’s result already confirmed as 29th, level with Saliba.
That position marks a notable change from his strongest previous showings. Mane finished 22nd in 2018 before rising to third place in 2019. He came even closer to winning the award in 2022, when he finished second.
His latest ranking may therefore fall below what his club statistics and continental success suggested he could achieve. The Ballon d’Or, however, assesses individual performances across the whole season, with competition for the honour remaining intense.
The nomination nevertheless represents an important return for Mane after four years outside the list of contenders. It restores his place among the players recognised at the highest level of the individual game, even though he has still not claimed the trophy.
Mane came closest in 2022, when he finished runner-up, but the 29th-place result in 2026 means he remains without the most sought-after individual prize in football.
