Arsenal, Bayern and PSG Lead Five-Club Shortlist for 2026 Ballon d’Or Club of the Year

The nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men's Club of the Year award have been revealed, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain making the five-club shortlist.

The race for one of the most prestigious team awards at the Ballon d’Or has officially taken shape.

Five clubs from three different continents have been nominated for the 2026 Men's Club of the Year award, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Bodø/Glimt, Flamengo and Paris Saint-Germain all recognised for their achievements during the qualifying period.

The shortlist was announced on Tuesday as the wider collection of Ballon d’Or nominations began to emerge.

Five Clubs, Three Continents

The nominees provide a fascinating geographical spread.

Arsenal represent England and Europe, while Bayern Munich give Germany another contender from the Bundesliga.

Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt provide one of the most intriguing inclusions, putting a club from outside Europe's traditional top-five leagues into contention.

South American football is represented by Flamengo, while Paris Saint-Germain complete the European contingent.

The diversity of the shortlist underlines the fact that the Club of the Year award is not simply a competition between the biggest European names.

PSG Return as Defending Winners

Paris Saint-Germain enter the shortlist as the reigning Men's Club of the Year.

The French giants won the 2025 award after a historic campaign that saw them claim the Champions League for the first time, alongside domestic success. UEFA's record of the 2025 ceremony confirms PSG as last year's men's winner.

Their inclusion again means PSG have an opportunity to retain an award they claimed only last year.

But they face competition from clubs that have built compelling cases of their own.

Arsenal's Inclusion Adds Another Dimension

Arsenal's nomination is also significant.

The English club have been recognised in a year in which their performances on both the domestic and European stage have strengthened their standing among Europe's elite.

Their presence also means Arsenal feature prominently across the wider 2026 Ballon d’Or awards, with individual and club recognition potentially making this another major night for the north London side.

Bodø/Glimt and Flamengo Provide the Surprise

Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the shortlist is the inclusion of Bodø/Glimt and Flamengo.

Bodø/Glimt's nomination puts Norwegian football firmly into the spotlight and gives the award a genuine underdog contender.

Flamengo, meanwhile, provide the South American challenge and ensure the shortlist is not exclusively dominated by European clubs.

Their presence gives the final vote a particularly interesting dimension.

Who Will Win?

The five nominees now go into contention for the award, with the eventual winner to be decided as part of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The Club of the Year prize is voted for by the same men's jury responsible for the Men's Ballon d’Or.

With PSG attempting to defend their crown, Arsenal and Bayern Munich carrying European heavyweight status, and Bodø/Glimt and Flamengo offering alternative cases, the final result promises to be one of the more intriguing decisions of this year's ceremony.

For now, five clubs remain.

Only one will leave with the 2026 Men's Club of the Year award.

🔥 Fan Debate

⚽ Goal: Arsenal's nomination shows how far the club have come among Europe's elite.

🔥 Fire: PSG have a strong case to retain the award.

😱 Shock: Bodø/Glimt's inclusion makes this shortlist far more unpredictable.

👍 Like: Flamengo's nomination gives South American football a place at the table.

💬 Comment: Which of the five nominees deserves to be named the 2026 Men's Club of the Year?