No individual award in world football is more prestigious than the Ballon d’Or. Presented annually since 1956, the precious sesame has been lifted by countless legends of the beautiful game since its creation. From Stanley Matthews, winner of the first trophy, to Lionel Messi, eight-time winner of the award, all have had the privilege of holding it in their hands. But how is the winner chosen? Who are the voters? Who is eligible? Sports Talk United provides answers to these questions and more.
How does the Ballon d’Or voting system work?
The process leading up to the Ballon d’Or award involves several stages. First, journalists from France Football, which has been awarding the prize for nearly 70 years, and L’Équipe work together to determine a list of the 30 best-performing players from the past season. Next, a soccer journalist from each of the top 100 nations in the official FIFA rankings is tasked with drawing up a list of the 10 players he or she considers to have been the best over the evaluation period.
The first-place competitor receives 15 points, while the others receive 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 points, respectively, depending on their ranking. Once all voters have cast their ballots, each player’s points are tallied to determine the final ranking. If two players obtain the same total number of points, the tie is broken by the number of first-place votes obtained. In the event of a further tie, the number of second-place votes is taken into account. And so on.
What are the main criteria considered in the Ballon d’Or vote?
Each voter must consider three main criteria when making their decision.
- Individual performances (decisive and impressive)
- Team performances and achievements
- Class and fair play
Where does the Ballon d’Or ceremony take place?
Historically, it’s at the Théâtre du Chatelet, in the heart of Paris, that the Ballon d’Or ceremony is held. Various personalities from the world of soccer are invited, such as players, coaches, and former stars. With the explosion of social media and the desire of the organizers to promote the event, more and more outside celebrities and content creators are also invited to attend.
What other awards are presented during the Ballon d’Or ceremony?
Although the ceremony is called the Ballon d’Or, it is also an opportunity for various other awards to be presented.
- The Women’s Ballon d’Or — Awarded to the best female player in the world over the past season.
- The Kopa Trophy — Awarded to the best male and female players under the age of 21 over the past season.
- The Yashin Trophy — Awarded to the best men’s and women’s goalkeepers of the past season.
- The Gerd Muller Trophy — Awarded to the player who has scored the most goals in a calendar year.
- The Socrates Award — Awarded to the best humanitarian work by a footballer (man or woman) worldwide.
- The Club of the Year Award — Awarded to the best men’s and women’s teams over the past season.
- The Coach of the Year Award — Awarded to the best coach of a men’s and women’s team over the past season.
