2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Club of the Year nominees: Arsenal, Bayern, Paris, Bodø/Glimt and Flamengo

On September 8 Beijing time, the full list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d'Or Men's Club of the Year award was announced.

2026 Men's Club of the Year nominees

Arsenal (England)

Bayern Munich (Germany)

Bodø/Glimt (Norway)

Flamengo (Brazil)

Paris Saint-Germain (France)

Arsenal

After Arteta completed his transformation of the Gunners, Arsenal ended a 22-year wait by winning the Premier League title in May this year. They then traveled to Hungary and battled Paris Saint-Germain to a penalty shootout in the Champions League final.

Bayern Munich

They lost 4-5 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinals, a match that will be remembered for a long time; for neutral fans, it was a spectacular contest. In the competition, the team also defeated Real Madrid 4-3 and overwhelmed Atalanta with a 6-1 victory. Under Kompany's coaching philosophy, the team produced countless dramatic moments and achieved impressive overall results.

In the Bundesliga, they dominated throughout the campaign, losing only one match across the entire season.

Bodø/Glimt

The Norwegian powerhouse currently sits top of the league, but their nomination is mainly due to their outstanding performances in the 2025/26 Champions League. They drew with Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham, then defeated Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. In the playoffs, they also beat Inter Milan home and away.

They were originally considered the underdogs, but their performances on the pitch fully proved their ability. This Norwegian side has great potential.

Flamengo

The 'Red and Black' won their third Copa Libertadores title in 2025, reaching the top of South America three times in six years. Led by Filipe Luís, Flamengo also won the Brazilian league title, edging out Palmeiras by a narrow margin. In March this year, Flamengo defeated rivals Fluminense on penalties in the state league final to lift the Rio state league trophy for the 40th time.

Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain won this award last year after securing the Ligue 1 and Champions League double, and they achieved it again this year. In Ligue 1, Paris faced strong competition from Lens; in the Champions League final, they faced Arsenal. In the end, thanks to the excellent performances of their top attackers, Paris came out on top once again.

From Norway to Brazil, these five clubs defined the 2025/26 season. They include both European giants and surprising dark horses, and all have been shortlisted for the Club of the Year award.