The Ballon d'Or , or Golden Ball , is one of the most prestigious awards in international football. Messi currently holds the record with eight Ballon d'Ors, and Cristiano Ronaldo is second with five. Every year, the French magazine France Football awards this trophy to the best footballer of the previous season. But how is the Ballon d'Or winner actually determined?
In this article, we'll explain step-by-step how the Ballon d'Or voting works, the criteria players are judged on, and why this award is so valuable in the world of football.
Voices: Journalists from 100 countries
The Ballon d'Or award is no longer decided by fans or coaches, but by a group of sports journalists. Only journalists from the 100 highest-ranked countries in the FIFA rankings are eligible to vote. Each country has one voter.
For the Netherlands, that has been Frans van den Nieuwenhof, a well-known football journalist, for years. He and his colleagues around the world collectively determine who can call themselves the best footballer in the world for a year.
Shortlist of 30 players
France Football publishes a shortlist of 30 players in advance. This list consists of footballers who distinguished themselves last season, both individually and with their teams. Think top scorers, creative playmakers, and leaders who led their teams to success.
Ballon d'Or Criteria
When voting, players are judged on three fixed criteria:
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Individual performance and decisiveness – How decisive was the player during the season?
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Team Achievements – What awards and successes has the player achieved with club or country?
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Class and Fair Play – Sportsmanship, attitude and behavior also play a role.
Thanks to these criteria, it's not just the number of goals or assists that count, but also the way a player carries his team and conducts himself professionally. Vinicius Jr. likely missed out on the Ballon d'Or in 2024 due to the Fair Play criterion.
The points system at the Ballon d'Or
Each journalist submits a personal top 10. Points are assigned to these positions:
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1st place: 15 points
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2nd place: 12 points
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3rd place: 10 points
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4th place: 8 points
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5th place: 7 points
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6th place: 5 points
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7th place: 4 points
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8th place: 3 points
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9th place: 2 points
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10th place: 1 point
All votes are added together. The player with the most points is declared the winner of the Ballon d'Or .
Prize with a rich history
Since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d'Or has amassed an impressive list of honors. Legends like Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Lionel Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo have won the award multiple times. For a footballer, winning the Ballon d'Or is often the ultimate recognition of a season of outstanding achievements.
