Mané and Quiñones Make 2026 Ballon d’Or Shortlist for Saudi Pro League
Sadio Mane and Julian Quinones have been named among the 30 contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the Saudi Pro League also represented in the Lev Yashin Trophy race by Al-Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and Al-Ahli captain Edouard Mendy.
Saudi Pro League award shortlist snapshot
| Player | Award | Key 2025-26 achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Sadio Mane | Ballon d’Or | 10 goals and six assists as Al-Nassr won their first league title since 2019 |
| Julian Quinones | Ballon d’Or | RSL Golden Boot winner with 33 goals for Al Qadsiah |
| Yassine Bounou | Lev Yashin Trophy | Won the King’s Cup with Al-Hilal and reached the AFCON final with Morocco |
| Edouard Mendy | Lev Yashin Trophy | SPL Best Goalkeeper and a second straight AFC Champions League Elite winner |
Mane’s place on the Ballon d’Or list follows a decisive season for club and country. The Senegal captain helped Al-Nassr end a long wait for the domestic title, registering 10 goals and six assists during the campaign. He also led Senegal to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final before taking the side into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The former Liverpool forward returned to the shortlist after previously finishing second in the 2022 Ballon d’Or voting. Speaking after Al-Nassr’s 2-1 victory over Abha on Wednesday, Mane said the nomination was an exceptional feeling and thanked supporters and journalists. He added that other Saudi Pro League players had strong cases for inclusion.
Quinones joins him after an outstanding first full year at Al Qadsiah. The Mexico international finished as the league’s leading scorer with 33 goals, taking the Golden Boot ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ivan Toney after a hat-trick on the final day of the season.
His international contribution was equally significant. Quinones scored four times for Mexico at the 2026 World Cup, including the first goal of the tournament in Mexico City, as the co-hosts reached the Round of 16.
After scoring in Al Qadsiah’s 3-2 win against Al Ahli on Tuesday, Quinones said he was proud of the recognition, describing it as the product of sustained work and perseverance. He said he intended to continue improving and perform at his highest level.
The goalkeeping nominees underline the division’s wider presence in the major individual awards. Bounou has earned his fourth Lev Yashin Trophy nomination after Al-Hilal’s King’s Cup success, alongside Morocco’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Mendy is shortlisted for the third time. Al-Ahli’s captain collected the Saudi Pro League’s Best Goalkeeper prize and helped the club retain the AFC Champions League Elite title for a second consecutive season.
With domestic fixtures continuing, Mane and Quinones will seek to carry their scoring form into Al-Nassr and Al Qadsiah’s next matches. Bounou and Mendy, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their standards in goal before the official awards ceremony.
