Ballon d’Or 2026: 5 factors that can decide who wins award
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With the 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching, attention is turning to the players in contention for one of football’s most prestigious individual prizes.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 26 in London, where the men’s and women’s winners will be crowned.
But what exactly does it take to win the Ballon d’Or?
The award’s voting system was revised in 2022, with the assessment period changing from the calendar year to the football season, which runs from August to July.
Here are five key things considered by Ballon d’Or voters, as released by the organisers:
1. Individual performance
Individual performance is the most important factor in determining the winner.
Voters are asked to assess a player’s performances throughout the season, with particular attention paid to their decisive and impressive contributions.
The assessment covers both club and international football.
2. Decisive moments
Beyond simply producing strong statistics, players are judged on their ability to make a difference in important matches and moments.
A player’s influence and impact on decisive games can therefore strengthen their case for the award.
3. Collective success
Team achievements also form part of the voting criteria.
Voters consider the trophies and titles won by a player’s club and national team during the season.
Winning major competitions can consequently boost a player’s chances, although collective success is ranked below individual performance.
4. Class and fair play
A player’s conduct on and off the pitch is also taken into account.
The Ballon d’Or criteria include sporting class and fair play, meaning a player’s behaviour can form part of the overall assessment.
5. Club and national team performances
Ballon d’Or voters consider performances for both club and country.
Players are therefore assessed across the full football season rather than solely on what they achieve at club level.
The criteria are considered in order of importance, with individual performance coming first, followed by collective achievements, then class and fair play.
The men’s Ballon d’Or jury consists of 100 journalists, while 50 members make up the women’s jury.
They will ultimately decide who succeeds as the next Ballon d’Or winner when the awards are presented in London on October 26.
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