Summary
The Ballon d'Or is a top football award given by France Football magazine to the best player of the year. Journalists from 100 countries vote on a shortlist of nominees to decide the winner. The rules for this award have changed over time, and now include players from all over the world.
Key Facts
- The Ballon d'Or is given by France Football magazine for being the best football player each year.
- A shortlist of 30 nominees is created by France Football and L'Equipe journalists, along with some former players.
- One journalist from each of the top 100 Fifa-ranked countries votes on the nominees.
- Points are given based on a player's ranking in the vote, with the most points winning.
- If players tie on points, first-place votes are used to break the tie.
- Originally, only European players or those playing in Europe could win; now all players globally are eligible.
- A women’s Ballon d'Or, called the Ballon d'Or Féminin, began in 2018.
- Lionel Messi has the most Ballon d'Or wins, with eight trophies.
