Real Madrid News
Confirmed: Real Madrid’s Mbappe, Bellingham, Vinicius and Cucurella nominated for 2026 Ballon d’Or
The final 30 list for the 2026 Ballon d’Or has been announced and as many as four Real Madrid stars find themselves in the running for football’s top individual honour.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony is set to take place in London, England in October, and Los Blancos will have a solid representation when it comes to the Golden Orb.
Indeed, superstars Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Jr., are nominated for the prize, along with summer signing Marc Cucurella.
Mbappe made history with Real Madrid and France
Even though Real Madrid failed to win a single major trophy during the 2025/26 season, Mbappe enjoyed another strong campaign on an individual level.
The French superstar plundered 42 goals in 44 games in all competitions, finishing as the top scorer in both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
Mbappe then proceeded to lead France to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot for the top scorer, while also becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the competition.
OUR 2026 MEN'S BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/GQFsH5u5lO
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026
His individual accomplishments make the 27-year-old forward a strong contender for the Ballon d’Or.
Bellingham, meanwhile, may not have been at his best for Real Madrid, with the midfielder managing eight goals and five assists from 40 games in all competitions.
But he exploded with the England national team at the World Cup, bagging seven goals, leading the Three Lions to a third-place finish.
Vinicius’ fifth nomination
Vinicius, much like Bellingham, was not always at his best during the last campaign, especially during the first half of the season, but managed to make a big impact in the latter stages under Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Brazilian international ended the 2025/26 season with a tally of 22 goals and 14 assists from 53 matches, earning his fifth Ballon d’Or nomination.
As for Cucurella, the left-back was at Chelsea last season where he was a consistent performer in a disappointing campaign.
Having signed for Real Madrid just before the World Cup, he was a key part of the Spain squad that lifted the trophy in North America.
The competition will be tough though with a host of PSG superstars, including the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Joao Neves, along with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Pau Cubarsi also in the race for the prize.
Harry Kane and Michael Olise of Bayern Munich are also in the running, along with Manchester City goal machine Erling Haaland.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
