2026 Ballon d’Or: Organisers make fresh clarification ahead of ceremony
Organizers of the Ballon d’Or, France Football, have issued a clarification regarding the award timeline.
The winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or will be announced at a ceremony in London later this month. Thirty players have been nominated for the prestigious award, including Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe.
In a post on their X account Thursday, France Football emphasized that the current season’s performances will not be taken into account for this year’s award. According to the organization’s official regulations, eligibility for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is limited to performances from August 3, 2025, to July 19, 2026, encompassing international competitions as well.
Consequently, any goals, assists, or notable performances from the current season will not contribute to the evaluation of nominees. Voting for the award closed last month, and the winner is set to be revealed on October 26.
