The 22 Best Menswear Moments From the 2026 Ballon d’or

At the Oscars of soccer, the biggest stars of the sport swapped their jerseys for tuxedos. Here are our favorite looks from the night.Getty ImagesThe film industry has the Oscars. Fashion has the Met Gala. And soccer has the Ballon d’Or. Last night, soccer legends from every corner rocked up to the London Palladium to see who would be crowned the year’s best baller.Would Harry Kane be the first Englishman since 2001 to take home the Ballon d’Or? Well, yes! “Wow, wow, wow. I’m almost speechless. Lucky I have this list,” Kane said at the start of his acceptance speech, coming to terms with being classed as the world's best soccer player this year. He was up against Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, and, of course, Lionel Messi of Inter Miami.Naturally, we here at GQ aren’t only concerned with the soccer. We’re watching what’s happening on the red carpet, too. The attendees didn’t turn up with grass-stained cleats or their team’s jerseys on. Much like the Premier League’s PFA Awards, the dress code was pretty prim and proper. Over the years, we’ve seen Jude Bellingham in a double-breasted Louis Vuitton suit, Erling Haaland in navy Dolce & Gabbana, and Mbappé in Dior. There’s a lot of done-up top buttons, tucked in shirts and bow-ties—which makes for pretty good inspo for any upcoming formal events you have in circled the calendar.Below, check out our picks for the best-dressed guys from the night.Which looks were your favorite? Cast your vote.ExpandKarwai TangHarry Kane in Thom SweeneyPointed lapels. Satin covered buttons. Polished shoes. Harry Kane pulls out a classic Thom Sweeney look for what would become his big night.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesKylian Mbappé in DiorSometimes, simple is best. Mbappé knows that. He turned up in a Dior velvet tux with a satin shawl lapel, plus a Hublot watch.Is this your favorite look?ExpandFRANCK FIFE/Getty ImagesBukayo Saka in Wales BonnerStarboy may have skipped the red carpet, but we got a glimpse of his Wales Bonner suit when he accepted his win for the Socrates Trophy. The clean doubled-breasted fit and unique brooch make a look fit for a victor.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesLamine Yamal in ChanelBreaking up the sea of black suits was a giant pink corsage pinned to Yamal's custom Chanel suit—making him one of many famous guys as of late to rock the historically womenswear-only label.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesOusmane Dembélé in ZegnaBlack tie? Well, Dembélé went burgundy tie with this Zegna look.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesMikel Arteta in Giorgio Armani, with Lorena BernalThe Arsenal manager prefers his Giorgio Armani suit fuss-free—just like how he wants his team to play on the pitch, too.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesMarc Cucurella in Giorgio ArmaniThe Spanish defender kept his Louis Vuitton look nice and easy by sticking with an all-black vibe. Clean and classic.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesLuis Díaz, with Geraldine PonceDíaz gave the lapels a night off with a boxy, collarless black jacket. Fortunately, a pair of big-ass trousers and a little bit of bling took care of the rest.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesYan Diomandé in Dolce & GabbanaThe stitching on the lapel. The gold brooch. The pleated trouser. The devil's in the details when it came to Diomandé's Dolce & Gabbana suit.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesJohan Manzambi in Saint LaurentThe Aston Villa player swapped out a tie for a gold chain, which nicely matched the brooch pinned to his Saint Laurent suit.Is this your favorite look?ExpandJeff Spicer - UEFA/Getty ImagesIbrahim MazaYour first Ballon d'Or invite is a pretty good excuse to get properly dressed up, and Maza kept things nice and straightforward in a classic black tux.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesUnai Simon, right, in Dolce & GabbanaThe Spanish goalkeeper collected his award in classic Dolce & Gabbana, and this photo op looks like a keeper that should be framed for the mantelpiece.Is this your favorite look?ExpandKarwai TangKerstin CasparijCasparij went big on the sleeves and cropped on the trousers—a very good argument for playing around with your suit's proportions.Is this your favorite look?ExpandGareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesDavid Raya, with Tatiana TrouboulRaya's kept his suit lapels just like his arms when he's in goal: way out wide.Is this your favorite look?A version of this story originally appeared in British GQ.Sign up for Show Notes to get news on the latest runway shows, parties, and insider events on the international fashion circuit.