According to a report by Madrid Universal on Monday October 26, 2026, Real Madrid duo Vinicius Junior and Marc Cucurella have finished 17th and 18th respectively in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings.

The announcement comes as the countdown to the prestigious award ceremony continues, with the final positions of the 30 nominees being revealed ahead of the event.

Real Madrid had four players included on this year’s shortlist. Vinicius and Cucurella are the first two to discover their final positions, while Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham remain the club’s other nominees.

Vinicius endured an inconsistent 2025/26 campaign, particularly during the first half of the season under former manager Xabi Alonso. However, the Brazilian winger improved considerably in the latter stages of the campaign following Alvaro Arbeloa’s arrival.

The 25-year-old finished the season with an impressive record of 22 goals and 14 assists in 53 appearances for Real Madrid. His performances also extended to the international stage, where he delivered a respectable showing for Brazil at the World Cup.

Those contributions helped Vinicius secure his fifth career nomination for the Ballon d’Or. Nevertheless, his 17th-place finish means he has missed out on a position among the leading contenders for this year’s award.

Meanwhile, Cucurella has secured 18th place following his performances for Chelsea last season. The Spanish left-back remained a consistent performer despite the London club experiencing a disappointing campaign.

Cucurella completed his move to Real Madrid shortly before the World Cup. He subsequently played an important role in Spain’s successful campaign, helping his national team lift the trophy in North America.

His international achievements have contributed to his recognition in this year’s Ballon d’Or standings. However, his 18th-place finish leaves him outside the leading positions.

Attention will now turn to Mbappe and Bellingham as Real Madrid await the final rankings of their remaining nominees. Mbappe is considered a strong contender for the prestigious individual honour, making his eventual position one of the major talking points surrounding the ceremony.